Abstract
Objective: To summarize published reports on the clinical effectiveness of conservative lymphedema management by reporting on outcomes that use anchor- and distribution-based approaches. Data Sources: MEDLINE and EBSCO databases from inception to April 2017. Study Selection: Articles were selected if they included an estimate for minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Data Synthesis: Twenty-four articles involving 938 patients met our inclusion criteria. Years of publication ranged from 1991 to 2016. Of these, 16 studies examined outcomes after the intervention was completed. The other 8 studies tested the reliability of measurement tools. Data were stratified according to different outcomes: limb volume (20 studies, 785 patients), symptoms (6 studies, 288 patients), skin changes (1 study, 28 patients), infection rate (5 studies, 255 patients), quality of life (4 studies, 148 patients), and strength, function, endurance, fitness, and disability (3 studies, 89 patients). Most studies covered cancer-related lymphedema (22/23), especially as related to breast cancer (19/22). Large heterogeneity was found in the methods of estimations with regard to improvement, exacerbation, and stability of lymphedema. Conclusion: There is limited evidence to draw conclusions regarding the recommended MCIDs for different populations, outcomes, and periods of time. Further studies are needed to facilitate the process of improving clinical care of lymphedema.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
