OBJECTIVE

To observe the clinical efficacy of needling therapy (acupuncture technique combined with therapeutic movement of the body) on upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery in combination with functional exercise.

METHODS

A total of 73 patients with postoperative lymphedema of breast cancer in the upper limbs were randomized into an observation group (36 cases) and a control group (37 cases). The routine nursing care and functional exercise were given in the control group, twice a day, for about 10-15 min each time, lasting 8 weeks. On the basis of the treatment as the control group, needling therapy was applied to the acupionts on the affected upper limb, i.e. Jianyu (LI 15), Waiguan (TE 5), Hegu (LI 4) and points (the most obvious swelling sites), as well as to bilateral Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Zusanli (ST 36), etc. The needles were retained for 30 min. While the needles retained, the patients were asked to move the affected shoulder to 90° by the sagittal anteflexion and keep it elevated. Simultaneously, the hand on the affected side was clenched and opened slowly and coordinately. needling therapy was delivered once every two days, three times weekly for 8 weeks. Before and after treatment, the difference of the circumference between the affected and healthy limbs, the score of visual analogue scale (VAS) for swelling and the score of disability of arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) were compared in the patients of the two groups. The clinical efficacy was evaluated.

RESULTS

After 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of treatment, except for the circumference of the area 10 cm below the cubitel crease in the control group, the differences in the circumferences of the rest parts between the affected and healthy limbs were reduced in comparison with those before treatment in the two groups (<0.01, <0.05). After 6 weeks of treatment, in the observation group, for the circumference at the level of hand between the thumb and the index finger and that of the wrist, the differences between the affected and healthy limbs was smaller compared with those in the control group (<0.05). After 8 weeks of treatment, except for the areas 5 cm below and above the cubitel crease, the differences of circumferences between the affected and healthy limbs in the observation group were smaller than those in the control group in the rest parts (<0.01, <0.05). After 8 weeks of treatment, the swelling VAS scores were reduced when compared with those before treatment in the two groups (<0.05), and the score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (<0.01). After 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, DASH scores were reduced in comparison with those before treatment in the two groups (<0.01). The total effective rate of the observation group was 83.3% (30/36), which was higher than that of the control group (35.1%, 13/37, <0.01).

CONCLUSION

needling therapy combined with the functional exercise obtains the satisfactory clinical effect on the upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery. This treatment effectively relieves swelling and improves the upper limb function.