Are fewer circumference measurements reliable to determine volume measurements in lower limb lymphedema compared to every 4th cm?

• Objective: In lymphedema management, lower limb volume is commonly assessed by circumference measurementevery 4th cm which is however time-consuming. The aim of this study is to evaluate the agreement between volumemeasurements derived from circumference measurements every 4th cm (V4) with every 8th cm (V8) and every 12th cm(V12) in patients with lower limb lymphedema (LLL) and to determine the test-retest reliability of these methods.Material-Method: Thirty women with unilateral or bilateral LLL were measured twice, two weeks apart usingcircumference measurements every 4th cm. Inclusion criteria: (i) primary or secondary LLL; (ii) persistent lymphedemafor the past 6 months; (iii) daily treatment with compression stockings. Exclusion criteria: (i) ongoing LE treatment; (ii)comorbidity affecting lower limb volume. Volume was calculated using the truncated cone formulae. Statistics: Intraclasscorrelation coefficient (ICC), Bland-Altman plots with limits of agreement, standard error of measurement (SEM%) and thesmallest real difference (SRD%).Results (preliminary): Overall, there are high agreement between the V4 and the V8 and V12 methods (ICCs 0.99).Also, the test-retest reliability is high for all three methods (ICC 0.99 for V4, V8 and V12, respectively) and the measurementerror low both for a group of subjects (SEM%: 1.2%-1.5%) and a single subject (SRD%: 3.4%-4.1%).Conclusions: The V8 and V12 methods agree sufficiently with the V4 gold standard method. All three methods are reliablewith small measurement errors indicating that real clinical changes can be detected over time. Fewer circumferencemeasurements can therefore be recommended in the management of LLL

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Sjukgymnastik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Physiotherapy (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

kon (subject category)

ref (subject category)