title: Surgical treatment of elephantiasis of the feet in congenital lymphedema to facilitate the use of a compression mechanism.
abstract: The aim of the current study is to report on the minimal surgical treatment of elephantiasis of the feet to facilitate the use of compression mechanisms. The cases of two patients with congenital lymphedema that evolved to elephantiasis involving the feet are reported. Intensive treatment of the lymphedema was performed with a significant reduction in size thus allowing a better identification of the limits of tissue masses for the surgical approach. This reduction enabled primary suturing of the lesions to be carried out and fast healing of the wounds. The surgery greatly improved large deformities of the toes and feet and facilitated further treatment of the lymphedema using bandaging. Thus, the skin was preserved, there was a reduction in the size of the feet, and the patients were able to start wearing shoes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Medicine School of São Jose do Rio Preto-FAMERP, Brazil;
authors.forename: José Maria Pereira
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de Godoy
authors.forename: Lina Mo
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Azoubel
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Fátima Guerreiro Godoy
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