Prevention and treatment of ecchymosis, edema, and fibrosis in the pre-, trans-, and postoperative periods of plastic surgery
Prevenção e tratamento de equimose, edema e fibrose no pré, trans e pós-operatório de cirurgias plásticas

INTRODUCTION

According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Brazil ranks second globally for aesthetic surgical procedures. The implantation of a silicone breast enlargement prosthesis remains the most popular surgical procedure worldwide (15.8%), followed by liposuction (14%), blepharoplasty (12.9%), rhinoplasty (7.6%), and abdominoplasty (7.4%)¹.

Of these surgical procedures, abdominoplasty and liposuction entail major intercurrences and complications^2-4.

Fibrosis, intense edema, and ecchymosis are complications that greatly challenge the dermatofunctional physiotherapist, who, over the past few years, has sought effective treatments to act in the pre-, trans-, and postoperative periods, demonstrating the importance of this healthcare professional⁵.

The physiotherapist’s role during the preoperative period remains very restricted⁶. Lange⁷ reports the use of cosmetics, nutricosmetics, and low glycemic index diets to improve the healing process, rearrange collagen, and reduce the rates of fibrosis, intense edema, and ecchymosis formation.

The physiotherapeutic approach in the transoperative period of plastic surgery has not been well demonstrated. Lange⁷ mentioned only the use of Unna boots and compression stockings for the prevention of deep venous thrombosis.

Thus, the present study proposes a new approach to the preoperative (use of antiglycans, nutricosmetics and nutritional orientations), transoperative (lymphatic taping and containment foam), and postoperative (manual lymphatic drainage, microcurrent, red light-emitting diode [LED], and taping) management with the goal of preventing and minimizing fibrosis, severe edema, and ecchymosis, accelerating patient recovery, and reducing the number of required physiotherapy sessions.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to evaluate the occurrence of postoperative ecchymosis, edema, and fibrosis in patients undergoing liposuction and/or abdominoplasty and statistically correlate these occurrences with the pre- and transoperative treatment.

METHOD

This controlled clinical trial was performed from June to December 2016. The study received approval from the Ethics Committee of the Center of Higher Education of Campos Gerais, Ponta Grossa, PR (55410316.0.0000.5215).

Female subjects in the preoperative phase of abdominal plastic surgery who were aged 18-56 years, had the surgical indication of abdominoplasty and/or abdominal liposuction, and were scheduled at least 7 days before surgery were admitted to the study. The sample consisted of 20 patients divided evenly into the control group (CG) and the experimental group (EG).

Patients in the CG and EG were evaluated preoperatively and daily after the 4^th postoperative day until the end of treatment.

The 20 patients were evaluated preoperatively, and personal details, surgical details, abdominal semiology, anthropometric measurements, and photodocumentation were collected.

The postoperative treatment in the CG was started from the 4^th day for 1 hour each session for the first 3 sequential sessions, and the remaining alternated 3 times in the first week, 3 times in the second week, twice in the third week and once in the last 4 weeks for a total of 15 sessions.

The therapeutic resources used in all sessions were: manual lymphatic drainage with the Leduc method in the lower limbs, upper limbs, abdomen and flanks, microcurrent (frequency, 250 Hz; intensity, 150 µA) for 20 minutes in the abdomen, red LED (650-959 nm) for 20 minutes in the abdomen, and application of taping in the operated area with the application chosen in accordance with the alteration found (edema, ecchymosis, or fibrosis), with a “web” or “basket” cut for fibrosis, “fan” or “octopus” for edema, and “hashtag” cut for ecchymosis, with a rest of 3-5 days between them and 1 day to the next application when necessary.

The EG group received care during the pre-, trans-, and postoperative periods. Preoperatively, guidelines regarding postoperative care, nutritional guidance with low glucose ingestion, a nutricosmetic oral antiglycant (Exsynutriment^®, Glycoxil^®, and Bioarct^®, 100 mg each, 30 capsules, 1 capsule per day), and a topical antiglycant (Alistin^® 10%, 30 g, 2 times a day in the area subjected to surgery), were provided and indicated to be used for 30 days or until the product supply was exhausted.

The intraoperative treatment of the EG group was performed with the application of lymphatic taping in a “fan” or “octopus” form in the operated regions. The dressings were cut into five different portions, positioned with minimum tension (0-15%) in the regions of the abdomen (with a fixed base in the axillary region bilaterally) (Figure 1) and flanks (with a fixed base in the coccygeal region) (Figure 2) and contention foam 360° in the operated region under the surgical mesh (Figure 3). The same postoperative treatment was offered to patients in the EG and CG.

Fibrosis formation was evaluated during all care sessions through palpation, visual inspection, contact thermography analysis, and photodocumentation in both groups. Edema was analyzed based on perimetry and body weight in both groups, while ecchymosis was evaluated using photodocumentation in both groups.

A database was created of the collected data that were subjected to analysis. Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance were the statistical methods used.

The following data were statistically analyzed in both groups: number of sessions; start of fibrosis; resolution of fibrosis; resolution of ecchymosis; perimetry of the iliac crest, inframammary groove, and navel; initial thermography; degree of fibrosis; ecchymosis type; and pain.

RESULTS

With the data collected during the preoperative and postoperative care of patients in the CG and EG, the study variables were assessed and compared.

The data of the quantitative variables were subjected to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) normality test to guide the choice between parametric or non-parametric tests.

The standard deviation of the variables by groups approved in the normality tests were subjected to the T test to guide the choice of the most suitable test for parametric analysis of variance of the means test (T test or T test with Welch correction). The data sets not approved in the KS test were subjected to the Mann-Whitney non-parametric test.

The p values of the analysis of variance and summary statistics of the numerical variables are presented in Table 1.

The variables that presented significant differences between the means (p < 0.05) included number of sessions, beginning of fibrosis, resolution of the fibrosis, resolution of the ecchymosis, perimetry on the 4th postoperative day of the iliac crest and the inframammary groove, and perimetry of the 4th postoperative day and final assessment of the inframammary groove and navel.

From the T test with Welch correction, significant (p < 0.05) differences were found between the EG and the CG with regard to the number of sessions; therefore, we rejected the null hypothesis.

The EG (μ =14.60 ± 0.70) presented a statistically significant lower mean number of sessions (p = 0.0032) than the CG (μ = 23.10 ± 6.71).

No pain was reported in the operated region in the EG, while the CG reported pain a mean 5.50 ± 1.58 postoperative days.

Perimetry was performed preoperatively, on the 4^th postoperative day, and at the end of the treatment in the inframammary groove, navel, and iliac crest.

On the 4^th postoperative day, significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the inframammary groove and iliac crest. The EG displayed a larger mean reduction in the perimetry than the CG in all different periods and anatomic parts except the iliac crest.

Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between the EG and CG in relation to the resolution of fibrosis (Table 2); thus, we rejected the null hypothesis.

The EG displayed a statically significant (p = 0.0058) lower mean resolution of fibrosis (μ = 11.7 ± 16.3) than the CG (μ = 48.6 ± 22.2).

From the non-paired T test, there were significant differences (p < 0.05) between the EG and CG in resolution of ecchymosis (Table 3); thus, we rejected the null hypothesis.

The EG displayed a statically significant (p = 0.0002) lower mean resolution of ecchymosis (µ = 7.8 ± 4.3) than the CG (μ = 17.6 ± 5.0).

p values < 0.05 indicate that the deviations are significant, that the variables are dependent, and that the samples differ significantly regarding the proportions of these classes; therefore, we rejected the null hypothesis (Table 4).

The results indicate that:

Moreover, in two patients in the EG, a difference was verified between the placement of the base of the taping compared to the axillary lymph node and coccygeal lymph node. There was no visual difference between the two positions in the two patients (Figures 14-17).

In regions in which taping was not used, a greater degree of visible ecchymosis was visible (Figures 18 and 19).

DISCUSSION

The variables of the EG that presented significant differences were number of sessions, beginning of fibrosis, resolution of fibrosis, resolution of ecchymosis, and perimetry on the 4^th postoperative day.

The mean number of sessions was 14.6 in the EG and 23.1 in the CG, showing that the approach in the pre-, trans-, and postoperative periods reduces the number of sessions.

Fibrosis formation in the EG occurred in only 2 patients on the 18^th and 16^th postoperative day; in contrast, in the CG, all patients developed fibrosis on the 19^th postoperative day. According to Lange⁷, Schwartz⁸, and Lange & Chi⁹, we usually palpate and/or visualize fibrosis after the first week due to the collagen synthesis being more intense between the 6^th and 17^th days. This corroborates the results of the EG in that 80% of those patients did not present fibrosis, as most did not present ecchymosis on the 4^th postoperative day.

The resolution of fibrosis of the two patients in the EG occurred on the 45^th and 40^th postoperative days compared to 48.6 days in the CG. In this study, the preoperative period along with the lymphatic taping and containment foam transoperatively promoted improved metabolism due to constant lymphatic drainage.

Chi et al.¹⁰ showed results of lymphatic taping accompanied by manual lymphatic drainage in the postoperative period, in which they obtained a total reversal of fibrosis in patients who were in the proliferative phase suggesting the use of transoperative lymphatic taping to prevent fibrosis.

The EG obtained significant results (p = 0.0002) in the resolution of ecchymosis compared to the CG. This finding corroborates with those of Zanchet & Del Vecchio¹¹, who found absorption of ecchymosis with application of taping.

Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed on the 4^th postoperative day in the inframammary groove and iliac crest, where we observed the largest perimetry in the CG compared to the EG. This shows that the preoperative period together with the use of the lymphatic taping and foam containment effectively reduced edema. There is no scientific evidence of this approach (pre-, trans-, and postoperative) in plastic surgery that would enable a comparison with our results.

For the treatment of edema, some studies are already been published, such as the case study of Chou et al.¹² showing the effects of taping in a patient with lymphedema secondary to breast cancer. According to Bosman & Piller¹³, the application of taping favors the process of expansion of the initial lymphatic vessels, allowing the liquid present in the interstitium to be absorbed by the lymphatic network.

According to Van Zuilen et al.¹⁴, Neves et al.¹⁵, and Bosman & Piller¹³, the use of taping facilitates the drainage process due to the increase in space between the skin and muscle tissue, promoting the opening of lymphatic vessels and the sliding of the skin on the fascia, mechanism that consequently contribute to improvements in lymphatic and venous circulation.

The application of taping in its various forms aims to promote redirection of the lymphatic circulation, reducing edema in places where it is installed¹⁶. This finding corroborates the indications of Kase et al.¹⁷, who reported removal of edema from the directioning of exudates toward the lymphatic ducts and increasing the local circulation.

Furthermore, pain was not reported in the operated region in the EG. In this case, according to the findings of Chi et al.¹⁰, postoperative treatment should be started as early as possible to avoid possible postoperative complications such as seroma, prolonged edema, refractory ecchymosis, and intense pain.

Some authors have already reported several physiological effects after the use of taping such as reduction of pain or abnormal sensation and removal of lymphatic congestion, fluid, or bleeding under the skin^18-22 as supported by our results.

There was a low occurrence of severe edema and ecchymoses in the EG. The use of a compression plaque for the operated region, involving the entire abdominal circumference of the patients, was associated to the application of the lymphatic taping technique to assist in the absorption of edema with the patient still in the surgical (transoperative) block and responsible for this low rate of edema and ecchymoses.

Another important factor in this study was the choice of cutting the lymphatic taping into the “fan” or “octopus” shapes. In this technique, the elastic band is cut into 4 or 5 strips with a fixed basis of approximately 5 cm. The articles identified in the literature using taping for edema^20,21,23,24 used only the “fan” or «octopus» cut as described here.

According to Sijmonsma²⁵, below the base of the “fan” (octopus) there is the possibility of triggering a skin irritation that does not occur below loose strips. In the present study, we observed no cases of skin irritation. Also, in accordance with the results of this study, Martins et al.²⁶ described no cases of skin lesions, thus justifying the use of the fan cut for the treatment of edema.

Another aspect to highlight is the fact that use of the taping is associated with skin lesions or allergic reactions²⁰; thus, we must prudently apply taping in smaller areas in an attempt to minimize the occurrence of these problems²⁷. Therefore, the “fan” or “octopus” cut is suggested during trans- and postoperative plastic surgery care.

The treatment was initiated on the 4^th postoperative day in both groups. The choice of the initiation of treatment was based on studies of Psillakis et al.²⁸, who reported that the lymphatic anastomoses are more intense between the 4^th and 7^th postoperative days, in addition to the studies of Mendez et al.²⁹, who mentioned that the absorption of interstitial fluid is hampered until the 5^th postintervention day and returns to normal on the 10^th day.

Flap adhesion occurs through a thin mesh of fibrin, which is infiltrated by fibroblasts that transform the tenuous adhesion into a definitive adhesion by fibrous tissue. An adhesion that allows the manipulation of the area repeatedly only occurs on the 4^th postoperative day in agreement with the present study⁷.

The degree of fibrosis was lower in the EG (p = 0.0002) than in the CG. The excess edema favors fibrosis formation. The rapid absorption of local edema, through the action of the lymphatic taping associated with the uniform compression of the operated region, decreased even more when the accumulation of fluid inside the tunnels was triggered by the liposuction cannula. With these small spaces, scar tissue formation will be less likely, as will fibrosis formation³⁰.

Fibrosis formation is mediated by the interaction between fibrinogenic growth factors and pro-fibrotic cytokines in addition to other influences such as mechanical stress, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress³¹. For the EG, the use of oral and topical antiglycans and nutritional guidelines was indicated to better control inflammation and oxidative stress.

According to Rocha & Paula³², it is possible to prevent or alleviate complications such as fibrosis using functional foods. Modulating the inflammatory process, a diet rich in anti-inflammatory agents can prevent, combat, and even reverse some of the damage caused by inflammation^36,33.

The analysis of fibrosis degree was also evaluated by contact thermography from the 4^th postoperative day, and the findings were predominantly normal in the EG (p = 0.0002). Chi et al.¹⁰ used contact thermography as an instrument for the early detection and classification of fibrosis.

The difference between the placements of the base of the taping in comparison to the two regions, axillary lymph nodes and coccygeal lymph node, was analyzed in two patients in the EG, but no visual difference was noted between the two positions, so either was considered acceptable.

In all patients of the EG, in areas in which taping was not applied, no areas with ecchymosis and edema were observed.

Taping should cover the entire area with edema. When applied to the skin, it provides a greater opening of initial lymphatics, favoring the absorption of interstitial fluid into the lymphatic channel^34-36.

The low rate of fibrosis formation in the EG was due to several factors. Among them, a preoperative conduct consisting of an anti-inflammatory diet and restriction of foods with a high glycemic index associated with the oral use of nutricosmetics and topical use of active antiglycants and anti-inflammatory agents; and conduct during surgery included the use of a compression plate and the placement of the lymphatic taping during surgery.

Individuals in the EG reacted differently in the postoperative period compared to those in the CG, with evidence of the influence of different classifications on the results of the statistical tests. Thus, the treatment result depends statistically on the pre- (nutritional guidelines, use of topical and oral nutricosmetics) and trans-operative (taping and containment foam) measures.

Our results suggest that the preoperative use of antiglycant cosmetics, nutricosmetics, and anti-inflammatory medications associated with the transoperative placement of lymphatic taping below the containment foam reduces edema, ecchymosis formation, and fibrosis formation in the postoperative period. It also decreases the number of required physiotherapy sessions and accelerates the patient’s recovery from abdominal surgeries.