Intermittent pneumatic compression versus multilayer bandages for reducing post mastectomy lymphedema: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Lymphoedema is a serious health, psychosocial and economic problem among patients treated for malignant tumors which requested specified physical therapy aiming to reverse further increase of limb size. Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of intermittent pneumatic-compression and multilayer bandages (Mobiderm bandage) in reduction of post mastectomy lymphedema. Methods: Thirty female patients with unilateral post mastectomy secondary lymphedema participated in this study. Patients were randomly assigned into two equal groups of 15, group (A) received intermittent pneumatic compression therapy for 20 min per day, daily for 3 weeks in addition to traditional medical treatment with manual lymphatic drainage and group (B) received multilayer bandages for 20 hours per day, daily for 3 weeks. Results: After one week of treatment (Post 1), between group statistical analysis showed significant increase (p< 0.05) in functional scale measures, slight improvements (p< 0.05) in goniometric measurement at several points despite no improvements (p≥ 0.05) in the other points. Nevertheless, the tape measurement showed no significant changes in most points (p≥ 0.05). This study showed a significant increase (p< 0.05) in goniometric measurement, tape measurement at most points of measures and functional scale measures in both groups after three weeks of treatment (Post 3) in comparing between pre and post 3 treatment within each group but with higher improvement in group B than group A. Conclusions: Mobiderm bandage produced objective improvement in lymphedema more than the usage of intermittent pneumatic compression, however both considered as a gold therapeutic tool in the management of lymphedema post mastectomy.