Short-term Effect and Acceptability of Manual Lymphatic Drainage for Paediatric Limb Lymphoedema: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Paediatric lymphoedema (LE) is a rare condition, for which there is little data available regarding treatments. The aim of this study was to assess the short-term effect and acceptability of a 30-min session of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) in children with well-documented LE of the lower limbs. Fifteen children were included (8 males; median age 11 years). Comparison of the sum of circumference values for the whole limb before and after MLD revealed a slight, but significant, reduction (from a median of 289.8 to 285.5 cm, p = 0.024), but the limb volumes did not decrease significantly (from a median of 4,870.3 to 4,772.3 ml, p = 0.394). Dermal thickness, measured by high-resolution ultrasound, decreased from 1.44 to 1.40 mm (p < 0.001). All children reported improvement in well-being, and found MLD useful. In conclusion, MLD is well accepted by children, but has poor impact on LE swelling. However, it decreases cutaneous oedema by mobilizing the lymph fluid.

Keywords

• lymphoedema
• children
• ultrasound
• lymphatic drainage
• physiotherapy
• cutaneous oedema