gms | German Medical Science

Lymphedema is a chronic, progressive, clinical condition that evolves with intense fibrosis, the most advanced stage of which is stage III (lymphostatic fibrosclerosis) [1], [2]. In more developed countries, lower limb lymphedema may be primary (congenital) or secondary to the surgical and radiotherapeutic treatments of tumors. In countries such as India this condition is mainly secondary to filariasis, but other infectious causes are frequent [1], [2], [3]. With regards to treatment, a considerable advance emerged with novel concepts and forms of treatment developed by Godoy & Godoy, which enable approximately a 50% reduction in the volume of the affected limb after five days of intensive treatment and the eventual normalization or near normalization in all clinical stages, including lymphostatic fibrosclerosis [4], [5], [6].

High-frequency ultrasound enables viewing the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis, the precise measurement of the thickness of the skin as well as the assessment of edema, fibrosis and atrophy of the skin [7]. One study reports that this imaging method can precisely detect lymphatic vessels for efficient lymphatic microsurgery without the prior need for lymphangiography [8]. A noninvasive, quantitative comparison of dermal fibrosis using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) revealed that both methods achieve the precise measurement of structural and physiological changes in the skin, but epidermal and dermal structures are better distinguished using OCT [8].

There are no studies in the literature showing the restoration of the dermis in patients with skin fibrosis. The aim of the present study was to show the possibility of the restoration of the dermal layers with the intensive treatment of fibrosis using the Godoy method.

A 55-year-old patient with an eight-year history of edema of the lower limb of the leg had constant episodes of erysipelas, despite regular treatments (Figure 1 [Fig. 1]). The edema progressed continually, associated with a change in the color of the skin and the formation of a crust (Figure 2 [Fig. 2]). However, the patient underwent no specific treatment for lymphedema until obtaining access to the Clínica Godoy-Brazil. The physical examination revealed lymphedema that limited the mobility of the ankle and a hardened crust below the knee (Figure 2 [Fig. 2]).

Intensive treatment (eight hours per day for three weeks) was proposed with the Godoy method. Treatment involved mechanical lymphatic therapy using the RAGodoy^® device eight hours per day and cervical lymphatic stimulation using the Godoy and Godoy technique 15 minutes per day. The skin was protected with an Unna boot. A hand-crafted non-elastic stocking made with grosgrain fabric was placed over the affected limb. The stocking was crafted to fit the measurements of the limb and adjusted based on the reduction in volume.

The reduction in volume of the limb was constant with treatment (Figure 3 [Fig. 3]). The skin received moisturizing and peeling occurred (Figure 4 [Fig. 4]). At this point, HFUS was performed, which revealed the disarrangement of the structures of the dermal layers and intensive fibrosis (Figure 5 [Fig. 5]). Treatment led to considerable improvement in the skin to standards close to normality (Figure 6 [Fig. 6]) and a new ultrasound was performed (Figure 7 [Fig. 7]). The results revealed substantial improvement in the skin, with the onset of the restoration of the dermal layers. At this point, the patient began to undergo outpatient treatment, maintaining the moisturizing of the skin and use of the grosgrain stocking.

The present study described the reversal of skin fibrosis to nearly clinical normality and the restoration of the skin layers following intensive lymphatic treatment using the Godoy method in a patient with lymphedema that led to the formation of an intense crust. No studies in the literature describe the use of this therapeutic strategy or show similar results.

The clinical reversal of fibrosis is a constant finding in the treatment of lymphedema, as the intensive Godoy method enables approximately a 50% reduction in the volume of the affected limb in five days of treatment, achieving a 70 to 90% reduction in volume in the second week [4], [5], [6]. The intensity of such reductions depends on the volume of the limb and the fibrotic process. However, the aim is to achieve normality or near normality, as described in the present case study.

The first phase of treatment is to achieve the clinical reversal of fibrosis associated with lymphedema in all clinical stages, including stage lymphostatic fibrosclerosis. In this phase, we are seeking to assess the structural changes of the skin in the fibrotic process and its reversal. High-frequency ultrasound is a noninvasive exam with good definition that allows to determine whether important changes have occurred in the skin layers [9].

As a noninvasive exam, high-frequency ultrasound is an important tool for the assessment of the dermis in these patients during treatment. A comparison with the results of the biopsies constitutes the most recent phase of our study [10], [11]. However, the results demonstrated the possibility of the reversal of fibrosis in patients with more advanced phases of lymphedema.

Another important detail in this case was the resolution of the intense crust on the patient’s leg. Therefore, this study offers a line of investigation to detect the structures composing the skin that interfere with these changes. Biopsy is fundamental to gaining a better understanding of why this patient had such considerable crust formation.

It is possible to reconstruct the layers of the skin in fibrotic conditions caused by lymphedema.

• Lívia Maria Pereira de Godoy: 0000-0002-1036-8779
• Jose Maria Pereira de Godoy: 0000-0001-5424-7787

The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Miriam Tarraf Fernandes and Dr. Julio Roberto Fernandes for their contribution to the performance and interpretation of ultrasound assessments.

The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of Faculdade de Medicina de Sao Jose do Rio Preto-FAMERP-Brazil # 4.397.868.

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.