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Complete Reduction of Leg Lymphedema after Liposuction : A 5-Year Prospective Study in 67 Patients without Recurrence

Karlsson, Tobias LU orcid ; Hoffner, Mattias LU ; Ohlin, Karin ; Svensson, Barbro and Brorson, Håkan LU orcid (2023) In Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open 11(12). p.5429-5429
Abstract

Background: Lymphedema leads to adipose tissue deposition that cannot be removed using conservative methods. Previous studies have shown a complete reduction in excess volume in limbs with lymphedema when treated with liposuction and controlled compression therapy (CCT). We present the long-term outcomes of all patients treated with liposuction and CCT for lower extremity lymphedema (LEL) who were followed up for 5 years. Methods: Sixty-seven LEL patients underwent liposuction and CCT. Thirty-six patients had primary lymphedema and 31 patients had secondary lymphedema. The outcomes included excess leg volume over a follow-up period of 5 years. Any association between patient characteristics and treatment outcomes was analyzed. Results:... (More)

Background: Lymphedema leads to adipose tissue deposition that cannot be removed using conservative methods. Previous studies have shown a complete reduction in excess volume in limbs with lymphedema when treated with liposuction and controlled compression therapy (CCT). We present the long-term outcomes of all patients treated with liposuction and CCT for lower extremity lymphedema (LEL) who were followed up for 5 years. Methods: Sixty-seven LEL patients underwent liposuction and CCT. Thirty-six patients had primary lymphedema and 31 patients had secondary lymphedema. The outcomes included excess leg volume over a follow-up period of 5 years. Any association between patient characteristics and treatment outcomes was analyzed. Results: The preoperative excess volume prior was 3515 mL [interquartile range (IQR): 2225-5455 mL], and the volume ratio to the unaffected leg was 1.35 (IQR: 1.25-1.53). One year after treatment, the excess volume decreased by 101% (IQR: 84-116). The decrease in excess volume continued during the 5-year follow-up, and at the end of the study, the excess volume had decreased by 115% (IQR: 98-124). No major complications were noted. Conclusions: Liposuction and CCT are safe and effective procedures for removing excess adipose tissue and normalizing the leg volume in patients with late-stage LEL. When no satisfactory results are obtained with conservative methods, such as complex decongestive therapy, and there is no or minimal pitting on limb examination, excess adipose tissue is present, and liposuction can be considered.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open
volume
11
issue
12
pages
5429 - 5429
publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
external identifiers
  • pmid:38074499
  • scopus:85179474821
ISSN
2169-7574
DOI
10.1097/GOX.0000000000005429
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
66e5170b-dd55-4597-8b78-b82341c14a7a
date added to LUP
2024-01-03 14:03:30
date last changed
2024-04-18 11:25:17
@article{66e5170b-dd55-4597-8b78-b82341c14a7a,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Lymphedema leads to adipose tissue deposition that cannot be removed using conservative methods. Previous studies have shown a complete reduction in excess volume in limbs with lymphedema when treated with liposuction and controlled compression therapy (CCT). We present the long-term outcomes of all patients treated with liposuction and CCT for lower extremity lymphedema (LEL) who were followed up for 5 years. Methods: Sixty-seven LEL patients underwent liposuction and CCT. Thirty-six patients had primary lymphedema and 31 patients had secondary lymphedema. The outcomes included excess leg volume over a follow-up period of 5 years. Any association between patient characteristics and treatment outcomes was analyzed. Results: The preoperative excess volume prior was 3515 mL [interquartile range (IQR): 2225-5455 mL], and the volume ratio to the unaffected leg was 1.35 (IQR: 1.25-1.53). One year after treatment, the excess volume decreased by 101% (IQR: 84-116). The decrease in excess volume continued during the 5-year follow-up, and at the end of the study, the excess volume had decreased by 115% (IQR: 98-124). No major complications were noted. Conclusions: Liposuction and CCT are safe and effective procedures for removing excess adipose tissue and normalizing the leg volume in patients with late-stage LEL. When no satisfactory results are obtained with conservative methods, such as complex decongestive therapy, and there is no or minimal pitting on limb examination, excess adipose tissue is present, and liposuction can be considered.</p>}},
  author       = {{Karlsson, Tobias and Hoffner, Mattias and Ohlin, Karin and Svensson, Barbro and Brorson, Håkan}},
  issn         = {{2169-7574}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{12}},
  pages        = {{5429--5429}},
  publisher    = {{Lippincott Williams & Wilkins}},
  series       = {{Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open}},
  title        = {{Complete Reduction of Leg Lymphedema after Liposuction : A 5-Year Prospective Study in 67 Patients without Recurrence}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000005429}},
  doi          = {{10.1097/GOX.0000000000005429}},
  volume       = {{11}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}