Summary
In the irreversible stage of lymphedema corrective surgery is often mandatory. A choice has to be made between two different basic selective procedures. As no totally satisfactory surgical method has as yet been established surgical management is difficult and implies considerable personal responsibility. This is a report on the long-term results of operations carried out on 16 patients between 1958 and 1979 using the so called “Charles procedure”. It concludes that this radical operation gives an acceptable long-term result in long-standing, elephantiastic primary lymphedema of the lower extremity.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barinka L (1967) Our experience with the treatment of lymphedema of the lower limb. Acta Chir Plast 9:218
Barinka L (1968) Employment of dermatome-super in the treatment of lower limb lymphedema. Acta Chir. Plast 10:223
Brunner U (1972) Therapie des Lymphödems der unteren Extremität. Dtsch Med J 23:395
Charles RH (1912) Elephantiasis of the leg. In: A system of treatment. Vol. 3. Latham & English, London
Clodius L, Uhlschmid G, Madritsch W (1973) Chirurgische Möglichkeiten der Lymphödembehandlung. Folia Angiol 21:304
Clodius L (1977) Lymphedema. Thieme, Stuttgart
Clodius L, Piller NB (1978) Conservative therapy for postmastectomy lymphedema. Chir Plastica (Berl) 4:193
Dellon AL, Hoopes JE (1977) The Charles procedure for primary lymphedema. Plast Reconstr Surg 60:589
Deutschmann W, Scharnagl E (1979) Die Behandlung des irreversiblen Lymphödems der unteren Extremität. Z Plast Chir 3:106
Deutschmann W, Rader W (1978) Freie und gestielte Hauttransplantate unter hyperbarer Sauerstofftherapie. Acta Chir Austriaca 3:72
Fontaine R, Fontaine JL (1969) Die operative Therapie des Lymphödems. Langenbecks Arch Klin Chir 325:89
Gibson T, Tough JS (1954) The surgical correction of chronic lymphedema of the legs. Br J Plast Surg 7:195
Hugo NE (1971) Recent advances in treatment of lymphedema. Surg Clin North Am 51:111
Macey HB (1948) A surgical procedure for lymphedema of the extremities. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 30:339
McKee DM, Edgerton MT (1959) The surgical treatment of lymphedema of the lower extremities. Plast Reconstr Surg 23:480
Mowlem R (1948) Treatment of lymphedema. Br J Plast Surg 1:48
Nielubowicz J, Olszewski W (1968) Experimental lymphovenous anastomosis. Br J Surg 55:449
Nielubowicz J, Olszewski W, Machowski Z, Sokolowski J (1968) Surgical lympho-venous shunts in patients with secondary lymphedema. Br J Surg 55:440
Pierer H (1969) Die radikale Resektion beim chronischen Lymphödem. Langenbecks Arch Klin Chir 325:113
Sakulsky SB, Schirger A, Harrison EG Jr, Janes JM (1977) Lymphedema: Results of surgical treatment in 64 Patients (1936–1964). Lymphology 10:15
Servelle M (1971) Chirurgie der Lymphgefäße. In: Erkrankungen des Lymphsystems. Ed: Földi M, Witzstrock, Baden-Baden Brüssel
Stone EJ, Hugo NE (1972) Lymphedema. A collective review. Surg Gynecol Obstet 135:625
Thompson N (1962) Surgical treatment of chronic lymphedema of the lower limb. Br Med J II:1566
Thompson N (1967) The surgical treatment of chronic lymphedema of the extremities. Surg Clin North Am 47:445
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Deutschmann, W., Scharnagl, E. Long-term results in the surgical treatment of lymphedema. Chir Plastica 5, 109–117 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00270337
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00270337