title: [Manual lymph drainage of post-mastectomy "big arm"].
abstract: We estimate the effectiveness of the manual lymphodrainage in the patients with post-mastectomy lymphedema of the upper limb associated to axillary lymphnodes dissection of the ipsilateral arm. The best results were found in the patients with soft and recent lymphedema (which means that was seen within one year); the worst were found in the chronic hard lymphedema. An important psychological assistance and physiotherapy were required to complete the rehabilitation. However, the physiotherapy was very effective when associated to pressed bandage of the arm, at the end of the LDM therapy. Furthermore, the muscle contraction in the bandage had reinforced the lymphoematic pump effect.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Metodologia Clinica e Tecnologie Medico-Chirurgiche, Sezione di Ortopedia e Traumatologia II, Università degli studi di Bari.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lanzisera
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patella
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Patella
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm; D001365:Axilla; D001458:Bandages; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011613:Psychotherapy; D013997:Time Factors