Pilot Study: Postoperative Evaluation of Upper Extremity Lymphedema Using a Cutometer: A Single-center Prospective...

Area of Science:

• Medical Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Lymphedema, characterized by lymphatic fluid congestion, presents significant skin stiffness.
• Lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) offers symptomatic relief for lymphedema, but objective assessment of skin changes is lacking.
• Evaluating objective indicators for LVA outcomes is crucial for lymphedema management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify objective indicators for assessing the outcomes of lymphaticovenular anastomosis in lymphedema patients.
• To explore the role of skin viscoelasticity measurements in evaluating LVA effectiveness.
• To enhance the objectivity of lymphedema assessments and postoperative evaluations.

Main Methods:

• Eleven female patients with unilateral upper extremity lymphedema post-LVA were grouped based on subjective symptom improvement.
• Skin stiffness and viscoelasticity were quantitatively measured using a Cutometer.
• Skin viscoelasticity was defined by the ratio of delayed to immediate deformation, reflecting tissue recovery dynamics.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in skin viscoelasticity were observed between the improved and unchanged LVA groups.
• The improved group demonstrated higher skin viscoelasticity values compared to the unchanged group.
• A significant difference in skin viscoelasticity was also noted between healthy and affected limbs in the unchanged group.

Conclusions:

• Skin viscoelasticity, measured by Cutometer, serves as a valuable objective indicator for LVA outcomes in lymphedema.
• This objective measurement can aid in monitoring lymphedema progression and treatment effectiveness.
• Implementing Cutometer assessments can improve the objectivity of lymphedema evaluations, enhancing patient care and surgical outcomes.