BMJ. 2010 Jan 12;340:b5396. doi: 10.1136/bmj.b5396.
Effectiveness of early physiotherapy to prevent lymphoedema after surgery for breast cancer: randomised, single blinded, clinical trial.
Torres Lacomba M1, Yuste Sánchez MJ, Zapico Goñi A, Prieto Merino D, Mayoral del Moral O, Cerezo Téllez E, Minayo Mogollón E.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of early physiotherapy in reducing the risk of secondary lymphoedema after surgery for breast cancer.
DESIGN: Randomised, single blinded, clinical trial.
SETTING: University hospital in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
PARTICIPANTS: 120 women who had breast surgery involving dissection of axillary lymph nodes between May 2005 and June 2007.
INTERVENTION: The early physiotherapy group was treated by a physiotherapist with a physiotherapy programme including manual lymph drainage, massage of scar tissue, and progressive active and action assisted shoulder exercises. This group also received an educational strategy. The control group received the educational strategy only.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Incidence of clinically significant secondary lymphoedema (>2 cm increase in arm circumference measured at two adjacent points compared with the non-affected arm).
RESULTS: 116 women completed the one year follow-up. Of these, 18 developed secondary lymphoedema (16%): 14 in the control group (25%) and four in the intervention group (7%). The difference was significant (P=0.01); risk ratio 0.28 (95% confidence interval 0.10 to 0.79). A survival analysis showed a significant difference, with secondary lymphoedema being diagnosed four times earlier in the control group than in the intervention group (intervention/control, hazard ratio 0.26, 95% confidence interval 0.09 to 0.79).
CONCLUSION: Early physiotherapy could be an effective intervention in the prevention of secondary lymphoedema in women for at least one year after surgery for breast cancer involving dissection of axillary lymph nodes.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current controlled trials ISRCTN95870846.
Comment in Prevention of lymphoedema after axillary surgery for breast cancer. [BMJ. 2010; Early physiotherapy after surgery for breast cancer can reduce the incidence of lymphoedema in the following 12 months. [J Physiother. 2010]
PMID: 20068255
PMCID: PMC2806631
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.b5396

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