A comparison of the static stiffness index between a compression garment and an adjustable device in breast cancer-related lymphoedema: a cross-sectional study.

[OBJECTIVE] To compare the static stiffness index (SSI) between a compression garment and a ReadyWrap (Venosan, Brazil) adjustable compression garment (ACG), and analyse the clinical factors associated with increased SSI in patients with breast cancer-related lymphoedema (BCRL).

[METHOD] In this cross-sectional study, working pressure (WP) and resting pressure (RP) were assessed using a PicoPress device (Venosan, Brazil) positioned under the biceps muscle in the arm region. The SSI was calculated as the absolute and relative difference between the RP and the highest WP recorded during muscle contraction.

[RESULTS] The study included 76 patients with a mean age of 61.7±12.6 years. During compression garment use, the mean RP was 21.9mmHg and mean WP was 40.0mmHg during biceps brachii contraction, resulting in an absolute SSI of 18.1mmHg and a relative SSI of 43.6% (p<0.001). For the ACG, the mean RP was 19.3mmHg and mean WP was 63.1mmHg, resulting in a mean SSI of 43.8mmHg and a relative SSI of 68.7% (p<0.001). The ACG produced an SSI 25.7mmHg greater than the compression garment, a 25.1% relative difference (p<0.001). The compression garment showed a higher SSI in early-stage versus advanced-stage patients (8.2%; p=0.003) and in those with conservative surgeries versus mastectomy (8.3%; p=0.005). No SSI difference was observed for the ACG when considering tumour characteristics and oncological treatment.

[CONCLUSION] The SSI was greater with ACG use compared with the compression garment. Patients who had breast-conserving surgeries and early-stage tumours showed the highest SSI when using the compression garment. No SSI differences were found regarding patient demographic, clinical, tumour or treatment characteristics during ACG use.