HANDLEY’S THREAD LYMPHANGIOPLASTY VS. BIOBRIDGE™ COLLAGEN MATRIX FOR LYMPHEDEMA THERAPY – OLD WINE IN NEW BOTTLES?

Lymphangioplasty is a technique of reconstructive lymphatic surgery where subcutaneous lymphatic neocollectors are created, using surgical threads, nanofibrillar collagen threads, plastic tubes or autologous tissue flaps. The history and success rates of these techniques are outlined and a classification for lymphangioplasty techniques is proposed. The use of absorbable surgical threads is suggested for modern attempts of thread lymphangioplasties. The results of such a thread lymphangioplasty should be compared with that of implanted nanofibrillar collagen threads or plastic tubes in order to evaluate whether the technique itself or the material used is responsible for the therapeutic success.