Millions of people across the world are affected by lymphoedema. Physical treatments commonly combine skin care, compression therapy, exercise and manual lymphatic drainage. Increasingly, surgery has been recognised as providing benefits for some individuals with lymphoedema, although the evidence is still limited. This article overviews lymphoedema types and treatments, discusses different surgical approaches for people with lymphoedema, and the implications for community nurses.

Dr Anne Williams Nurse Consultant/ Researcher, Esk Lymphology, Midlothian

Article accepted for publication: January 2012