• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Course Login

WoundEducators.com | Online Wound Care Certification Courses

Your online source for wound care certification.

  • Courses
  • About Us
    • Meet The Team
    • Risk-Free Guarantee
    • Accredited Wound Care Course Info
    • Student Testimonials
    • Our Mission to Help
  • Why Certify?
    • What’s Included
    • How Hard is Wound Care Certification?
    • Wound Care Certification Cost
    • Wound Care Certification for Nurses
    • Getting Started: Wound Care Certification
  • Resources
    • Sign up for Our Newsletter
    • Search Wound Care Jobs
    • Post a Wound Care Job
    • Submit Your Resume
    • I Completed My Wound Care Course – Now What?
    • Wound Care CE Hours Online
    • Wound Care Recertification Process
  • Certifications
    • Compare Wound Care Certification Options
    • ABWM® Wound Care Certifications
      • The CWCA® Certification
      • The CWS® Certification
      • The CWSP® Wound Care Certification
    • The WCC® Certification
    • The AWCC® Wound Care Certification
    • The CWCN® Certification
  • Blog
  • FAQ’s
  • Contact

Lymphedema Risk Factors and Diagnosis

September 15, 2011 1 Comment

33
SHARES
ShareTweetGoogle +Linkedin
PinterestRedditTumblrStumbleuponDiggDelicious

lymphedemaLymphedema is a debilitating condition in which lymphatic fluid accumulates in the interstitium causing swelling and a feeling of heaviness or weakness in the affected area, usually the arms and legs.1

Lymphedema Risk Factors

A number of factors are known to increase the risk of developing lymphedema, with cancer treatment being a major risk. Lymph-node dissection during mastectomy for breast cancer is a common cause of subsequent lymphedema, as well as radiation therapy for a range of cancers.2,3 As the risk for lymphedema is lifelong, the onset may occur at the time of the initiation of treatment or be delayed, even for several decades.4 Other risk factors for lymphedema include major trauma or burns, a family history of lymphedema, and high body mass index.5  Exposure to filarial infection, which is a mosquito-borne illness common in Asia and Africa, also increases the chance of developing the condition.6

Lymphedema Signs and Symptoms

It is important to be able to recognize the early signs and symptoms of lymphedema before a formal clinical diagnosis is made, in order to recognize the condition early and offer better management. In particular, healthcare professionals should observe the limbs of post-mastectomy patients and other patients who have received cancer treatment and note any reported heaviness or tightness, aching or discomfort, restricted range of motion, or swelling in a portion of the limb or the entire limb.7

Lymphedema Diagnosis

A formal clinical diagnosis of lymphedema begins with a thorough medical and surgical history.7 Observation of the limb should be performed to include skin mobility, tissue consistency, and the presence or absence of fibrosis noted, as well as whether the edema is pitting or nonpitting. Pain level should be recorded as well as the presence of the Stemmer sign. Digital photography and measurements of girth and volume should also be performed.7

Additional diagnostic testing such as lymphoscintigraphy, used to detect blockages in the lymph vessels or the absence of lymph vessel, may also be necessary. Other tests may be performed to exclude the other causes of leg swelling, such as a CAT scan or MRI, blood tests, or an ultrasound to exclude the presence of a blood clot.7

The implications of overlooking lymphedema, or diagnosing the condition late, can be devastating, potentially leading to patient discomfort, pain, and immobility. Greater knowledge and understanding of the risk factors and diagnosis of this debilitating condition can be gained by undertaking additional professional training, including studying for a certification in wound management.

Learn More With Our Wound Care Education Options

Interested in learning more about wound care and certification? Browse through our online wound care certification courses for information on our comprehensive range of education options to suit healthcare professionals across the full spectrum of qualifications and experience.

References

  1. Myers BA. Wound management principles and practice. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson; 2008.
  2. Meeske KA, Sullivan-Halley J, Smith AW. Risk factors for arm lymphedema following breast cancer diagnosis in Black women and White women. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2009;113(2):383-91.
  3. Norman SA, Localio AR, Kallan MJ. Risk Factors for Lymphedema after Breast Cancer Treatment. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(11); 2734–46.
  4. Brennan MJ, Weitz J. Lymphedema 30 years after radical mastectomy. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 1992; 71: 12–14.
  5. Ridner SH, Dietrich MS, Stewart BR. Body mass index and breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema. Support Care Cancer. 2011 Jun;19(6):853-7.
  6. Lymphatic filariasis. Prescrire Int. 2008;17(93):36.
  7.  Lawenda BD, Mondry TE, Johnstone PA. Lymphedema: a primer on the identification and management of a chronic condition in oncologic treatment. CA Cancer J Clin. 2009;59(1):8-24.

Categories: Lymphedema

About the Author

Laurie Swezey's avatar

Laurie Swezey, founder and president of WoundEducators.com, has been a Registered Nurse for more than a quarter century, with most of those years dedicated to wound treatment. Ms. Swezey is a Certified Wound Care Nurse and a Certified Wound Specialist.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    October 8, 2010 at 4:43 am

    Barbara,
    Thank you for sharing a very sad possibly preventable outcome with your loved one. This si why we as Nurses need to stand up for are patients who are note recieving adequate pain management. With all the pharmaceutical treatment modalities available to us in this day and age…Healthcare providers should be utilizing these medications(even concious sedation when needed) to minimize psychological effects that pain,depression and anxiety can cause…clearly his quality of life was poor as a result of the pain. Very Very sad. We need to do better!

    Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

sidebar

Blog Sidebar

Free Preview!

Sign up for our newsletter and enjoy a Free Preview of our Wound Care Certification Course!

Support Our “Where There’s a Wound, There’s a Way!™” Foundation

fundraiser logo

Join our “Where There’s a Wound, There’s a Way!™” fundraising campaign  Learn more

Payment Information

All major credit cards & PayPal accepted. All transactions are performed via a SSL secure server to ensure your privacy.

payments accepted visa mastercard amex discover paypal

Copyright © 2009-2021 WoundEducators.com
Wound Care Certification Courses | Risk Free Guarantee | Terms and Policies

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT