The effect of manual lymphatic drainage following total knee arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial

Publication date: Available online 30 January 2016
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Author(s): Claude Pichonnaz, Jean-Philippe Bassin, Estelle Lécureux, Guillaume Christe, Damien Currat, Kamiar Aminian, Brigitte M. Jolles
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of manual lymph drainage (MLD) on knee swelling and the swelling's assumed consequences following total knee arthroplasty (TKA).DesignRandomized controlled trial.SettingPrimary care hospital.ParticipantsTwo groups of 30 patients were randomized before TKA surgery (65% ♀, age 70.7±8.8 y.o., weight 77.8±11.3 kg., size 1.64±0.08 m., BMI 29.9±4.1 kg·m⁻²)InterventionParticipants received either five treatments of MLD or a placebo, added to rehabilitation, in between the second (D2) and the seventh (D7) postsurgical days.Outcome MeasuresSwelling was measured by blinded evaluators before surgery, at D2, D7 and 3 months (3M) using bioimpedance spectroscopy and volume. Secondary outcomes were active and passive ROM, pain, knee function and gait parameters.ResultsAt D7 and 3M, no outcome was significantly different between groups, except for the knee passive flexion contracture at 3M which was smaller and less frequent in the MLD group (–2.6° [95%CI -5.0° to -0.21], P=0.04; absolute risk reduction 26.6% [95% CI 0.9 to 52.3%]; NNT = 4). Pain decreased between 5.8 and 8.2 mm on the VAS immediately after MLD, which was significant after four out of five MLD treatments.ConclusionThe MLD applied early following TKA surgery did not reduce swelling. It reduced pain immediately after treatment. Further studies, should investigate if the positive effect of MLD on knee extension is replicable.



from #MedicinebyAlexandrosSfakianakis via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/20drQu6
via IFTTT