Comparing the Effects of Manual Lymphatic Drainage and Intermittent Pneumatic Compression in Breast Cancer Lymphoma Treatment

In this study we compared the therapeutic effects of MLD and IPC on lymphedema in surgically-treated breast cancer patients who referred to physical medicine and rehabilitation center of Shohada medical center in 2008-2009.

In this randomized clinical trial we studied patients with unilateral lymphedema of upper limb as a complication of mastectomy for breast cancer treatment who referred to our center. 11 patients were treated by IPC method (cases group) and 12 patients were treated by MLD method (control group). Each patient was treated for 10 sessions. Before trial, 5th and 10th session after treatment the lymphedema was assessed in five parts of the limb (hand, wrist, 5 cm below elbow, 5 & 10 cm above elbow). Results were compared between groups and also in each group before and after treatment using t-paired test (independent and paired), repeated measure ANOVA and SPSS 16th.

The mean (±SD) age of our patients was 46.6±9.4 years and 45.8±9.3 years in control group. The mean (±SD) of lymphedema was 133±9 (cm) in cases and 135±9 (cm) in control groups after 10 treatment session. There was no significant difference between two groups.

Our results suggest that improvement of lymphedema have not significant difference in these methods, but further studies are necessary for final judgment.