Dataset Information

Surgical debulking of podoconiosis nodules and its impact on quality of life in Ethiopia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In Ethiopia, severe lymphedema and acute dermato-lymphangio-adenitis (ADLA) of the legs as a consequence of podoconiosis affects approximately 1.5 million people. In some this condition may lead to woody-hard fibrotic nodules, which are resistant to conventional treatment. We present a series of patients who underwent surgical nodulectomy in a resource-limited setting and their outcome.

Methods

In two teaching hospitals, we offered surgical nodulectomies under local anaesthesia to patients with persisting significant fibrotic nodules due to podoconiosis. Excisions after nodulectomy were left to heal by secondary intention with compression bandaging. As outcome, we recorded time to re-epithelialization after surgery, change in number of ADLA episodes, change in quality of life measured with the Dermatology Quality of Live Index (DQLI) questionnaire, and recurrence rate one year after surgery.

Results

37nodulectomy operations were performed on 21 patients. All wounds re-reepithelialised within 21 days (range 17-42). 4 patients developed clinically relevant wound infections. The DLQI values were significantly better six months after surgery than before surgery (P<0.0001). Also the number of ADLA episodes per three months was significantly lower six months after surgery than before surgery (P<0.0001).

Conclusion

Nodulectomy in podoconiosis patients leads to a significant improvement in the quality of life with no serious complications, and we recommend this to be a standard procedure in resource-poor settings.

SUBMITTER: Enbiale W

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7857577 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Surgical debulking of podoconiosis nodules and its impact on quality of life in Ethiopia.

Enbiale Wendemagegn W Verdonck Kristien K Gebeyehu Melesse M van Griensven Johan J de Vries Henry J C HJC

PLoS neglected tropical diseases 20210122 1

<h4>Background</h4>In Ethiopia, severe lymphedema and acute dermato-lymphangio-adenitis (ADLA) of the legs as a consequence of podoconiosis affects approximately 1.5 million people. In some this condition may lead to woody-hard fibrotic nodules, which are resistant to conventional treatment. We present a series of patients who underwent surgical nodulectomy in a resource-limited setting and their outcome.<h4>Methods</h4>In two teaching hospitals, we offered surgical nodulectomies under local ana ...[more]

PMID: 33481805

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Dataset Information

Surgical debulking of podoconiosis nodules and its impact on quality of life in Ethiopia.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Surgical debulking of podoconiosis nodules and its impact on quality of life in Ethiopia.

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