Lymphedema Surveillance and Prevention.

ABSTRACT: Lymphedema is a chronic condition, which can impact a person's quality of life and function. Identifying lymphedema at an early stage is key to preventing a person from developing chronic lymphedema. Physiatry can play an important role in education, identification of risk factors, performing prospective lymphedema surveillance programs, and prevention/treatment of lymphedema. Incorporating lymphedema surveillance programs into routine cancer care provides physiatry with the opportunity to assess additional rehabilitation and functional needs of a cancer patient.

Cephalometric Characteristics in Chilean Latino Population with Normal Occlusion and Harmonic Profiles in Permanent Dentition. A Retrospective Study / Características Cefalométricas en Población Latina Chilena con Oclusión Normal y Perfiles Armónicos en Dentición Permanente. Un Estudio Retrospectivo

SUMMARY: Malocclusion is usually treated based on clinical decisions complemented with a cephalometric analysis, allowing the comparison of an individual with standard reference norms. Cephalometric standards have mostly been obtained from Caucasian population, but may not be appropriate for other ethnic groups, becoming a clinically relevant problem in multicultural and multiracial societies. The present study aimed to establish cephalometric norms for Chilean-Latino population, using a representative sample of class I individuals in permanent dentition. A sample of 72 cephalometric x-rays of class I growing individuals (47 women and 25 men) between 10 and 20 years of age with class I occlusion and harmonic profile was obtained from the records of the Universidad de los Andes taken between 2012 and 2019, including 1164 individuals. The radiographs were classified according to their cervical vertebral maturation status, and cephalometrically analyzed, obtaining vertical and sagittal parameters in soft and hard tissues, which were compared with Caucasian cephalometric norms. The statistical analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics (T-test, ANOVA and Bonferroni tests). Cephalometric norms were obtained for hard and soft tissues. Upon comparison with Caucasian norms, the subjects included in the sample present a tendency towards a convex profile, significant incisal proclination, dental protrusion, labial biprotrusion and an acute nasolabial angle. There are cephalometric differences between the Caucasian cephalometric norms and those observed Chilean Latino population, displaying differences at a hard and soft tissue level that should be taken into account for clinical decision making in Orthodontics.

La maloclusión generalmente se trata con base en decisiones clínicas complementadas con un análisis cefalométrico, lo que permite la comparación de un individuo con normas de referencia estándar. Los estándares cefalométricos se han obtenido en su mayoría de población caucásica, pero pueden no ser apropiados para otros grupos étnicos, convirtiéndose en un problema clínicamente relevante en sociedades multiculturales y multirraciales. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo establecer normas cefalométricas para población chileno-latina, utilizando una muestra representativa de individuos clase I en dentición permanente. Se obtuvo una muestra de 72 radiografías cefalométricas de individuos en crecimiento clase I (47 mujeres y 25 hombres) entre 10 y 20 años de edad con oclusión clase I y perfil armónico de los registros de la Universidad de los Andes tomados entre 2012 y 2019, incluidas 1164 personas. Las radiografías se clasificaron según su estado de maduración vertebral cervical, y se analizaron cefalométricamente, obteniendo parámetros verticales y sagitales en tejidos blandos y duros, que se compararon con normas cefalométricas caucásicas. El análisis estadístico se realizó mediante estadística descriptiva e inferencial (T-test, ANOVA y pruebas de Bonferroni). Se obtuvieron normas cefalométricas para tejidos duros y blandos. En comparación con las normas caucásicas, los sujetos incluidos en la muestra presentan una tendencia hacia un perfil convexo, proinclinación incisal significativa, protrusión dental, biprotrusión labial y un ángulo nasolabial agudo. Existen diferencias entre las normas cefalométricas caucásicas y las observadas en población latina chilena, mostrando diferencias a nivel de tejidos duros y blandos que se deben considerar para la toma de decisiones clínicas en Ortodoncia.

Rehabilitation Interventions for Head and Neck Cancer-Associated Lymphedema: A Systematic Review.

Importance: Head and neck cancer-associated lymphedema (HNCaL) affects up to 90% of survivors of head and neck cancer and is a substantial contributor to disability following head and neck cancer treatment. Despite the prevalence and morbidity associated with HNCaL, rehabilitation interventions are not well studied. Objective: To identify and appraise the current evidence for rehabilitation interventions in HNCaL. Evidence Review: Five electronic databases were searched systematically from inception to January 3, 2023, for studies on HNCaL rehabilitation interventions. Study screening, data extraction, quality rating, and risk of bias assessment were performed by 2 independent reviewers. Findings: Of 1642 citations identified, 23 studies (1.4%; n = 2147 patients) were eligible for inclusion. Six studies (26.1%) were randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and 17 (73.9%) were observational studies. Five of the 6 RCTs were published during 2020 to 2022. Most studies had fewer than 50 participants (5 of 6 RCTs; 13 of 17 observational studies). Studies were categorized by intervention type, including standard lymphedema therapy (11 studies [47.8%]) and adjunct therapy (12 studies [52.2%]). Lymphedema therapy interventions included standard complete decongestive therapy (CDT) (2 RCTs, 5 observational studies), modified CDT (3 observational studies), therapy setting (1 RCT, 2 observational studies), adherence (2 observational studies), early manual lymphatic drainage (1 RCT), and inclusion of focused exercise (1 RCT). Adjunct therapy interventions included advanced pneumatic compression devices (APCDs) (1 RCT, 5 observational studies), kinesio taping (1 RCT), photobiomodulation (1 observational study), acupuncture/moxibustion (1 observational study), and sodium selenite (1 RCT, 2 observational studies). Serious adverse events were either not found (9 [39.1%]) or not reported (14 [60.9%]). Low-quality evidence suggested the benefit of standard lymphedema therapy, particularly in the outpatient setting and with at least partial adherence. High-quality evidence was found for adjunct therapy with kinesio taping. Low-quality evidence also suggested that APCDs may be beneficial. Conclusions and Relevance: The results of this systematic review suggest that rehabilitation interventions for HNCaL, including standard lymphedema therapy with kinesio taping and APCDs, appear to be safe and beneficial. However, more prospective, controlled, and adequately powered studies are needed to clarify the ideal type, timing, duration, and intensity of lymphedema therapy components before treatment guidelines can be established.

Implementation of a comprehensive prehabilitation program for patients undergoing radical cystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Coordinated preoperative optimization programs for radical cystectomy (RC) are limited and non-comprehensive. We evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a coordinated, multi-faceted prehabilitation program for RC patients at a high-volume bladder cancer referral center. METHODS: We performed a narrative literature review for prehabilitation in bladder cancer management as of December 1, 2020, with specific emphasis on examining higher-level evidence sources. We selected domains with the highest level of evidence and recruited a multidisciplinary team of experts to design our program. We implemented a comprehensive prehabilitation program with a pre-defined order set as standard of care for all patients undergoing RC beginning February 1, 2021. Demographic and clinicopathologic data were collected prospectively. Rates of adherence to the prehabilitation program services were analyzed using Stata version 13. RESULTS: A total of 82 patients were enrolled between February - December 2021, of which 67 (81%) had undergone RC at data cutoff. Mean age was 68 years (SD 11) and 63 (76%) identified as male. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) was utilized in 48 (59%) patients. The mean Charlson Comorbidity Index was 3.8 (SD 2.3). 100% of patients were screened for malnutrition, with 82% consuming nutritional supplements. Fifty-two percent of patients attended physical therapy pre-op. The 30-day and 30- to 90-day rates of complications were 56% and 40%, respectively. Resource length of stay (RLOS) declined after implementation of prehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a comprehensive prehabilitation program at a high-volume bladder cancer referral center is feasible and has a modest effect on resource consumption and complications in our early experience.

State of Rehabilitation Research in the Head and Neck Cancer Population: Functional Impact vs. Impairment-Focused Outcomes.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Management of head and neck cancer (HNC) typically involves a morbid combination of surgery, radiation, and systemic therapy. As the number of HNC survivors grows, there is growing interest in rehabilitation strategies to manage HNC-related comorbidity. In this review, we summarize the current state of HNC rehabilitation research. RECENT FINDINGS: We have organized our review using the World Health Organization's International Classification of Function (ICF) model of impairment, activity, and participation. Specifically, we describe the current research on rehabilitation strategies to prevent and treat impairments including dysphagia, xerostomia, dysgeusia, dysosmia, odynophagia, trismus, first bite syndrome, dysarthria, dysphonia, lymphedema, shoulder syndrome, cervicalgia, cervical dystonia and dropped head syndrome, deconditioning, and fatigue. We also discuss the broader impact of HNC-related impairment by exploring the state of rehabilitation literature on activity, participation, psychosocial distress, and suicidality in HNC survivors. We demonstrate that research in HNC rehabilitation continues to focus primarily on impairment-driven interventions. There remains a dearth of HNC rehabilitation studies directly examining the impact of rehabilitation interventions on outcomes related to activity and participation. More high-quality interventional studies and reviews are needed to guide prevention and treatment of functional loss in HNC survivors.

Cancer Rehabilitation: Acute and Chronic Issues, Nerve Injury, Radiation Sequelae, Surgical and Chemo-Related, Part 1.

Individuals with cancer commonly experience functional impairments. Symptoms may present immediately or years to decades following their treatment. These impairments may include fatigue, pain, neuropathy, lymphedema, or radiation fibrosis syndrome and have the potential to deleteriously impact their function and quality of life. Cancer rehabilitation is a comprehensive resource that facilitates maximizing and maintaining cancer survivors' physical, social, psychological, and vocational functioning. This article covers the common functional impairments experienced by cancer survivors and the treatment strategies used in cancer rehabilitation. Application of these services can enhance the ongoing care for cancer survivors.

Cancer Rehabilitation:: Acute and Chronic Issues, Nerve Injury, Radiation Sequelae, Surgical and Chemo-Related, Part 2.

Cancer affects millions of individuals, and approximately half will develop functional impairments. Cancers that commonly, either from direct effects or from its treatments, result in functional impairments include breast, head and neck, brain, and spinal cord tumors. There is a plethora of potential impairments including pain, spasticity, dystonia, weakness, and neurogenic bowel or bladder. This article reviews the functional impairments frequently encountered in breast, head and neck, brain, and spinal cord tumors. The authors also discuss management and treatment options incorporated in comprehensive cancer rehabilitation to address these impairments to maximize and maintain function and quality of life.