Open Access
CC BY 4.0 · Arch Plast Surg 2023; 50(03): 288-304
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1768943
Extremity/Lymphedema
Original Article

Lymphological Liposculpture for Secondary Lymphedema after Breast Cancer and Gynecological Tumors: Long-Term Results after 15 Years

Manuel E. Cornely 
1   LY.SEARCH, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
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Abstract

Background Untreated lymphedema of an extremity leads to an increase in volume. The therapy of this condition can be conservative or surgical.

Methods “Lymphological liposculpture” is a two-part procedure consisting of resection and conservative follow-up treatment to achieve curative volume adjustment of the extremities in secondary lymphedema. This treatment significantly reduces the need for complex decongestive therapy (CDT). From 2005 to 2020, 3,184 patients with secondary lymphedema after breast cancer and gynecological tumors were treated in our practice and clinic. “Lymphological liposculpture” was applied to 65 patients, and the data were recorded and evaluated by means of perometry and questionnaires.

Results The alignment of the sick to the healthy side was achieved in all patients. In 58.42% (n = 38), the CDT treatment could be completely stopped postoperatively; in another 33.82% (n = 22) of the patients, a permanent reduction of the CDT was achieved. In 7.69% (n = 5) patients, the postoperative CDT could not be reduced. A total of 92.30% (n = 60) of the patients described a lasting significant improvement in their quality of life.

Conclusion “Lymphological liposculpture” is a standardized curative sustainable procedure for secondary lymphedema for volume adjustment of the extremities and reduction of postoperative CDT with eminent improvement of the quality of life.

Keywords

lymphedema - complex decongestive therapy - mammary carcinoma - cervical carcinoma - liposuction - lipohyperplasia dolorosa

Author's Contribution

M.E.C. is the single author and responsible for each and every work related to this manuscript.


Patient Consent

Written patient consent was obtained for publication and academic purpose.


Ethical Approval

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) with an approval number of 324/2022.




Publication History

Received: 18 August 2022

Accepted: 27 November 2022

Article published online:
29 May 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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