Lymphoedema following ilio-inguinal lymph node dissection.

The results of 90 consecutive cases of ilio-in guinal lymph node dissection have reviewed, with special regard to healing complications and the development of postoperative lymphoedema. An overall healing complication rate of 54.5% was found with reported postoperative oedema in 55.5% of cases. The 37 patients still alive at the time of the study were all examined at a special review clinic. 80% of these patients who had had healing complications developed postoperative oedema, whilst 42% of them with no healing complications developed postoperative oedema. On examination 30% had severe oedema, 50% detectable oedema, and 20% no oedema. The oedema, if it had appeared, developed early postoperatively and was worst in the first 6 months. It gradually improved, but persisted despite time and treatment. The only conservative treatment which appeared to help was the use of elastic support bandage. One-quarter of the patients found mobility was affected to some degree. Good correlation was found between the measurement of the circumference of the leg with a tape measure and the volume of the leg measured by the water displacement method and it would seem that the simplest methods suffice in detecting the oedema.