Complex decongestive therapy in a patient with poliomyelitis, bilateral lymphoedema and a deep wound: a case study

The aim of this case report is to describe the results of complex decongestive therapy (CDT) in a patient with poliomyelitis and bilateral lymphoedema, and to emphasise the effect of CDT on wound healing.

A 48-year-old female patient was given CDT for bilateral grade 3 lymphoedema in the lower extremities and a deep wound on the right foot. She had been diagnosed with poliomyelitis sequela and mobilised with a wheelchair for 26 years. The lymphoedema on both legs and the wound on the right foot sole had been present for five years and eight months, respectively. Detailed wound care had been performed previously upon the green, malodorous infected wound, without healing. The patient received skin care education, manual lymphatic drainage, multilayer bandaging and exercises for 4 weeks in a total of 20 sessions. The improvement was assessed by limb volumes prior to and at the end of the treatments.

The right and left lower limb volumes were decreased significantly at the end of treatments (3042cm³ (R) and 3165cm³ (L) before versus 2702cm³ (R) and 2401cm³ (L) afterward). The wound size decreased considerably and the green malodorous flow ceased. The patient continued self-massage and self-bandaging after hospital discharge. The control follow-up, one month later, revealed a completely healed wound with maintained volume.

In conclusion CDT for a duration of 4 weeks in a female patient with poliomyelitis, bilateral lymphoedema and an infectious hard-to-heal wound, improved both the lymphoedema and wound healing.