Short-Term Outcomes of Advanced Pneumatic Compression Device Versus Usual Care Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Multi-Site Randomized Clinical Trial

To date, this publication represents the largest prospective, randomized trial evaluating lymphedema treatment in Head and Neck Cancer survivors (HNCS). The 236 subjects were randomized to either the APCD (Flexitouch Plus®) or Usual Care (UC) groups. The two month findings from this multisite study report on symptom severity and anatomical changes.
Key results:

• Lymphedema-associated symptom burden improved to a similar degree in both groups
• Subjects in the APCD group experienced a significant reduction in external soft tissue swelling; subjects in the Usual Care group exhibited marginal improvement
• APCD participants self-reported using the Flexitouch Plus an average of 6.0 days/week