TY - JOUR
T1 - Liposuction and controlled compression therapy reduce the erysipelas incidence in primary and secondary lymphedema
AU - Karlsson, Tobias
AU - Hoffner, Mattias
AU - Brorson, Håkan
N1 - Copyright the Author(s) 2022. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.
PY - 2022/5/6
Y1 - 2022/5/6
N2 - Background: Skin infections are a recurring problem for people with lymphedema, and lymphedema has been proven to be the single most important risk factor for developing erysipelas in the leg. This study aimed to determine whether liposuction for late-stage lymphedema reduces the rate of erysipelas in lower extremity lymphedema. Methods: One-hundred twenty-four patients with a median age of 49 years who had liposuction and controlled compression therapy for lower extremity lymphedema were included. Excess volumes were calculated before and after surgery. Median preoperative and postoperative patient years at risk were 11 and 5 years, respectively. Results: With a total of 1680 preoperative person years at risk and 335 bouts of erysipelas experienced in 64 patients, the preoperative incidence rate was 0.20 bouts per person per year, and the period prevalence was 52%. Postoperatively, the patients were followed over a total of 763 person years at risk, and 28 patients experienced a total of 53 bouts of erysipelas, resulting in a postoperative incidence rate of 0.07 bouts per person per year, and a period prevalence of 23%. This represents a 65% decrease in the erysipelas incidence rate (P < 0.001). The preoperative median excess volume of 3158 ml was reduced with a median of 100% (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Liposuction and controlled compression therapy significantly reduce the risk for erysipelas in lower extremity lymphedema and completely reduces the excess volume. This finding is similar to our previous research including patients with upper extremity lymphedema.
AB - Background: Skin infections are a recurring problem for people with lymphedema, and lymphedema has been proven to be the single most important risk factor for developing erysipelas in the leg. This study aimed to determine whether liposuction for late-stage lymphedema reduces the rate of erysipelas in lower extremity lymphedema. Methods: One-hundred twenty-four patients with a median age of 49 years who had liposuction and controlled compression therapy for lower extremity lymphedema were included. Excess volumes were calculated before and after surgery. Median preoperative and postoperative patient years at risk were 11 and 5 years, respectively. Results: With a total of 1680 preoperative person years at risk and 335 bouts of erysipelas experienced in 64 patients, the preoperative incidence rate was 0.20 bouts per person per year, and the period prevalence was 52%. Postoperatively, the patients were followed over a total of 763 person years at risk, and 28 patients experienced a total of 53 bouts of erysipelas, resulting in a postoperative incidence rate of 0.07 bouts per person per year, and a period prevalence of 23%. This represents a 65% decrease in the erysipelas incidence rate (P < 0.001). The preoperative median excess volume of 3158 ml was reduced with a median of 100% (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Liposuction and controlled compression therapy significantly reduce the risk for erysipelas in lower extremity lymphedema and completely reduces the excess volume. This finding is similar to our previous research including patients with upper extremity lymphedema.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85130731724&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/GOX.0000000000004314
DO - 10.1097/GOX.0000000000004314
M3 - Article
C2 - 35539287
AN - SCOPUS:85130731724
SN - 2169-7574
VL - 10
SP - 1
EP - 8
JO - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open
JF - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open
IS - 5
M1 - e4314
ER -