Effectiveness of Taping on Anastomotic Regions in Patients With Breast Cancer-Related Lymphoedema

Dokuz Eylül University (DEU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Breast Cancer Lymphedema; Manual Lymphatic Drainage; Compression Bandages

Treatments: Other: Decongestive Physiotherapy; Other: Decongestive Physiotherapy plus taping

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03765996

2301-GOA

Details and patient eligibility

About

One of the most common conservative treatments of lymphoedema is Complex Decongestive Physiotherapy (CDP). The bandage is one of the most important components of the treatment process. The multilayer short-stretch bandage is used to maintain volume reduction and prevent lymph backflow caused by compression. However, some patients refuse or postpone treatment or show a lower compliance with compression bandaging.Kinesio® Tex tape (KT) is a new technique for managing lymphoedema in the field of physical and alternative therapy, and it may affect decongestion of lymphatic fluid accumulated under the skin. Some studies which showed that KT was an effective for patients with BCRL, it was applied on both the affected arm and anastomosis. One of these studies also reported that a significant reduction in limb volume in patients who were applied of the tape only to the affected arm. This significant effect could also be seen by applying KT only to the anastomosis. In literature, however, there is no evidence to support this theory. So the aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of KT which was applied to anastomotic regions along with CDP in the management of BCRL.

Enrollment: 36 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients who had unilateral BCRL and women aged over 18 who were 'significant', 'marked', or 'severe' lymphoedema.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with paralysis on part of the affected arm,
• Patients who had undergone CDP more than once within six months,
• Patients who had an active infection,
• Patients who had a skin disease.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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36 participants in 2 patient groups

Decongestive Physiotherapy

Active Comparator group

Description:

This group received Complex Decongestive Physiotherapy.

Treatment:

Other: Decongestive Physiotherapy

Decongestive Physiotherapy plus taping

Experimental group

Description:

This group received Complex Decongestive Physiotherapy, and also applying taping to anastomosis regions.

Treatment:

Other: Decongestive Physiotherapy plus taping