Poster Presentation New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting

Trends in head and neck lymphoedema management: a review (1609)

Evania Lok 1 , Sally Ng 1 , Jenny Lee 2
  1. Austin Health, Heidelberg, VICTORIA, Australia
  2. University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

Management of head and neck cancer can result in significant sequelae for patients in the form of lymphoedema. Either through direct disruption from surgery or soft tissue injury from radiotherapy, the resultant swelling and pathological tissue changes can manifest externally and internally. This can cause not only visible facial swelling and musculoskeletal discomfort but also compromise swallowing and vocalisation. Traditional surgical lymphoedema management techniques are difficult to perform in the head and neck region and not widely performed. Management for Head and Neck Lymphoedema (HNL) is largely conservative and this is a review of current management strategies in the literature. Early recognition and referral to hospital services are a crucial step to initiate clinical assessment and treatment planning. Historically, manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) was used to promote lymphatic flow via circular massage techniques. Today, Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) has become the mainstay of lymphoedema treatment when MLD is used in conjunction with compression dressings, simple exercises and skin care. Provision via a therapist has evolved to encompass self-management programs to widen access and reduce travel and financial burdens. Ideally the lymphoedema service will also include input from speech pathologists and dietitians to aid speech, swallowing and nutritional deficits.  Pneumatic pumps to mimic manual massage have also been adopted for use in CDT. Recent advances in laser therapy have widened the potential scope of management options for patients suffering from HNL. Photobiomodulation (PBM) and CO2 laser has been described for management of lymphoedema in other anatomical areas with reported success and early evidence of its use in HNL is promising. More education and awareness is required for lymphoedema service referrals and adoption of novel management techniques.

 

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