A Multicenter Controlled Randomised Clinical Trial to Assess the Efficacy of the Dynamic Decongestive System During the Intensive Phase of Lower Limb Lymphedema Treatment
A Multicenter Controlled Randomised Clinical Trial to Assess the Efficacy of the Dynamic Decongestive System During the Intensive Phase of Lower Limb Lymphedema Treatment
The goal of this study is to compare the efficacy of a dynamic compression device (DDS) with traditional multicomponent bandages (TMCB) in terms of excess volume reduction in lower limb lymphoedema during the first 5 days of intensive treatment.
Participants in both groups will undergo the standard decongestive treatment protocol of the trial site. The only difference between both groups will be the modality of the compression therapy:
Background Lymphedema is a chronic, incurable swelling of the limbs that requires an initial intensive decongestive phase followed by lifelong maintenance based mainly on compression. Properly delivered, this two phase approach can significantly reduce limb volume, lower infection risk, and improve quality of life, but the condition remains under recognized, stigmatizing, and costly for patients and health systems.
Lymphedema markedly impairs daily function, mobility, body image, and mental health, and is associated with anxiety, depression, sexual dysfunction, social isolation, and work limitations. In Europe, most secondary lymphedema cases arise after cancer surgery and adjuvant therapies, particularly for breast, gynecologic, gastrointestinal, melanoma, and prostate cancers, with an increasing burden of lower limb disease linked in part to improved cancer survival and the diffusion of robotic surgery.
Management guidelines (e.g., HAS, ISL) recommend multidisciplinary care and intensive decongestive treatment (IDT) when excess volume is significant, followed by maintenance. IDT typically combines daily multi component bandaging (MCB), exercise, skin care, and manual lymphatic drainage, the latter mainly for comfort and adherence rather than proven decongestive efficacy. A key goal is maximum volume reduction, which drives functional, preventive, and psychological benefits and prepares patients for the long maintenance phase. MCBs remain the cornerstone of physical decongestion. However, they require frequent tightening as volume decreases, involve complex, time consuming multilayer application with substantial material costs, and are highly operator dependent.
They also motivate the search for improved compression technologies-especially dynamic systems that are quick and easy to apply, less operator dependent, to optimize decongestion, support long term self management, and reduce overall costs.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
jp.belgrado@gmail.com+33 6 38 39 79 56
velika.stoichkova@gmail.com+359 882 40 55 33
Montpellier, 34090, France
s-mestre@chu-montpellier.fr+33 467 33 70 28
i-quere@chu-montpellier.fr+33 467 33 70 28
malloizel-delaunay.j@chu-toulouse.fr+33 668 91 58
bura-riviere.a@chu-toulouse.fr+33 668 91 58
franz-josef.schingale@lympho-opt.de+49 9154 911 200
info@drb-bodensee.de+49 (0)178 628 5376