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Influence of Manual Lymph Drainage During Hospitalization on Swelling, Function and Pain in Patients After Total Knee Replacement

Not Applicable
Terminated
Conditions
Total Knee Replacement
Interventions
Procedure: individual physiotherapy only
Procedure: Lymphatic massage and individual physiotherapy
Registration Number
NCT01657149
Lead Sponsor
Rabin Medical Center
Brief Summary

To investigate the effects of lymphatic drainage massage performed immediately after total knee replacement in relation to reduction of limb circumference, pain reduction and functional improvement.

Detailed Description

In the past few decades there has been a rise in the number of knee replacements performed due to degenerative arthritis. In general over the years the number of operations has risen while the age of the patients has gone down. The aim of these operations is to improve quality of life, alleviate pain and improve function.

Post operative complications can delay recovery and rehabilitation, lengthen hospitalization duration and in extreme cases lead to failure of the operation. These complications include infection, deep vein thrombosis, swelling and edema, pain, impairment of range of motion, muscle weakness and functional disability.

Reduction of post operative edema may help to speed up recovery after total knee replacement.

Recently an effective treatment has been found for lymphatic edema that appears after oncological operations that include removal of lymph nodes or due to blood vessel disorders. This treatment is administered by a physiotherapist and includes lymphatic drainage massage, compression bandaging and exercises.

This trial will examine the effect of lymphatic massage treatment on orthopedic patients to ascertain if the use of this technique can shorten the duration and improve the quality of the post operative rehabilitation and prevent other post operative complications. At the present time not enough research has been done in this field and it is necessary to continue to investigate the efficiency of the lymphatic treatment in acute orthopedic patients.

Aims To investigate the effects of lymphatic drainage massage performed immediately after total knee replacement in relation to reduction of limb circumference, pain reduction and functional improvement.

Methods This blind randomized trial will take place in the Sharon hospital in Petach Tikvah with the cooperation of the orthopedic surgeons. The patients will be randomized into two groups- each containing 15 patients. The research group will receive lymphatic massage and individual physiotherapy while the control group will receive individual physiotherapy only.

Methods In order to assess the effects of the treatment the primary measurement will be circumferential measurement of limb volume. The secondary measurements will be pain assessment according to the VAS scale, a functional assessment according to BI"TI and range of motion measured with an inclinometer .

The measurements will be taken once prior to hospitalization. During hospitalization the measurements will be taken daily including the day of the release home and one last measurement will be taken 6 weeks after the operation. All measurements are valid and reliable.

The trial is scheduled to last 3-4 months

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
20
Inclusion Criteria
  • primary total knee replacement
  • ages 50-85
  • preserved cognitive facilities and comprehension.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Severe chronic heart failure.
  • previous episode of lymph edema.
  • surgical removal of lymph nodes in the lower limbs.
  • significant scarring of the lower limbs (larger than 10 cm).
  • Deterioration in a patient's medical condition or an infection of the lower limb during the trial period will also cause exclusion of that patient.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Control groupindividual physiotherapy onlyreceive individual physiotherapy only
Research GroupLymphatic massage and individual physiotherapyreceive lymphatic massage and individual physiotherapy
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Circumferential measurement of limb volumeThe circumferential measurements will be assesed pre operative and post operative on daily basis for 5 days post op
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) InclinometerVAS & INCLINOMETER will be assessed on a daily basis for 5 days post op
Daily functional capacity AssessmentDaily functional capacity Assessment after 6 days post op. All Outcomes will be reassessed after 6 weeks post op

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Rabin Medical Center, Campus Golda

🇮🇱

Petah Tiqva, Israel

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