A Clinical Trial About the Contribution of Manual Lymph Drainage in Complex Physical Therapy for Patients With Lymphoedema Secondary to Mastectomy

Hypothesis:

To know the utility of manual lymph drainage (MLD) as part of the Physical Complex Therapy has turn out relevant because of the exclusive dedication that it supposes to the therapist. To date, the evidence-base for MLD is very limited and only two studies analyze its relevance. The first study measured the effect of compression bandage with or without MLD. The group receiving compression and MLD had a significant reduction in limb volume and decreased pain, despite the fact the MLD was given only for one week (Johansson et al., 1999). A further study investigated the effect of eight sessions of MLD over two weeks in 42 women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema, and the findings suggested that MLD do not contribute significantly to oedema reduction, although the MLD course was relatively short and the study group was limited to those with mild to moderate swelling (20-30 % of difference). Information about the quality of life, using the questionnaire EORT QLQ-C30 was gathered but the results were not considered in the final assessment (Andersen and Cabbage 2000).

Similar studies would provide comparative and enlightening information with regard to the previous results. The investigators could determine if the MLD, in spite of not obtaining an improvement in the volume of the lymphoedema, provides a benefit in the reduction of the symptoms related to it.

The investigators hypothesized that MLD does not contribute significantly in volume limb reduction but it provides a clinical improvement regarding the quality of life according to the questionnaire EORT QLQ-C30.

For the calculation of the sample size the investigators depart from the following assumptions:

The effect of the standard treatment on the control group control will produce an average volume limb reduction of 5 %.

The effect of the treatment in the experimental group will be an average of the 25 % (a minor difference of effects would indicate a discreet effect of the tested treatment). The investigators also assume that, the standard deviation will be similar in both groups and near to 25 %. With this information and for an alpha risk of 0.05 and a power of 0.80 the calculation of the sample size is 20 patients in every group. Considering a rate of withdrawal of 30 % in every group, the appropriate sample size is 58 patients assigned in two groups of 29 patients.

Main aim:

To analyze the effectiveness of Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) in the treatment of postmastectomy lymphoedema in order to reduce the volume of lymphoedema

Secondary aims:

To analyze the duration of the reduction of the lymphoedema in the time. To analyze the improvement in the concomitant symptomatology of the lymphoedema using the results of two quality of life tests validated in Spanish: EORTC QLQ-C30 version 2.0, for the cancer in general and EORTC QLQ-BR23 specifically for the breast cancer. In particular, the items refering to the upper extremity (47, 48, 49) and to the corporal image (39, 40, 41, 42) and in which the higher the score the worse the result.

Methodology:

Researching Project with methodology of randomized, controlled clinical trial. Group A or Control: patients with standard treatment (care the skin, exercise and measures of compression -bandage for one month and later a sleeve of compression).

Group B or Experimental: patients with standard treatment (care of the skin, exercise and measures of compression (bandage for one month and later a sleeve for lymphoedema) and in addition they receive Manual Lymph Drainage Main variable: Volume reduction of the affected arm after the treatment expressed in percentage.

Number of patients: 58 women.