[Post-traumatic lymphatic and venous drainage changes in persistent edema of lower extremities]

Mechanical injury of soft tissues and bones of the lower extremity is followed by chronic edema at the site of trauma and distally to it. This complication affects almost every patient with a fracture of the lower limb. The question is whether posttraumatic edema is due to lymphatic obstruction, venous thrombosis or both, or a local cytokine and growth factor hyperactivity at the fracture site. The aim of study was to assess the venous and lymph outflow in patient with chronic postraumatic edema of the lower limbs. A group of 19 patients with chronic edema lasting for more than 3 months was evaluated. Limb circumference, tissue tone measurements, skin temperature and Doppler enhanced ultrasonography were all taken down for the 19 patients in the evaluated group. Limb circumference was measured at the following level: foot, ankle, calf and thigh. Results showed an increase of circumference in comparison with the healthy extremity at each evaluated level of: 1.20 +/- 1.65 cm, 1.63 +/- 1.41 cm, 1.40 +/- 1.72 cm and 0.30 +/- 1.90 cm. Local temperature increase compared to the healthy extremity was also noted (0.93 +/- 0.81 degree C and 0.37 +/- 0.21 degree C measured at ankle and calf level). Tissue tone measurements and tone index (a quotient of tone measurement values in the extremity with edema and in the healthy extremity) were also increased by 0.86 +/- 0.57, 0.85 +/- 0.34 and 0.86 +/- 0.28, when measured with 40 g, 110 g and 180 g weights respectively. In 17 cases (89.5%) lymphoscintigraphy demonstrated an increased lymphatic outflow compared to the contralateral extremity. A marked increase in the inguinal lymph nodes was also noted. In the remaining 2 cases (10.5%) extravasation of the contrast medium into the skin indicated lymph outflow disorders. Only in 5 cases (26.3%) ultrasonography indicated deep vein thrombosis. The obtained results indicate that the pathophysiology of chronic postraumatic edema is linked with an inflammatory and restorative reaction at the fracture site. Only in a limited number of cases deep vein thrombosis and damaged lymphatic vessels are responsible for postraumatic edema.