Limb swelling consistent with posttraumatic lymphedema after closed upper and lower extremity fractures: A retrospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Secondary lymphedema is a very common clinical issue with millions of patients suffering from pain, recurrent skin infections, and the constant need for a decongestive therapy. Well- established because of oncologic procedures, secondary lymphedema is also a well-known phenomenon after trauma. However, precise epidemiological data of posttraumatic lymphedema upon severe extremity injuries are rare.

Methods

In the present study, we analyzed a patient cohort of 223 individuals who suffered closed fractures of the upper and lower extremity between 2016 and 2020. All of them simultaneously had a soft tissue injury, of 2nd and 3rd grade according to Tscherne classification. Typical symptoms of lymphedema were recorded in a retrospective cohort analysis through patien

SUBMITTER: Reinkemeier F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12697936 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature