Manual Lymphatic Drainage on Pressure Injuries

The Effect of Manual Lymphatic Drainage on Pressure Injuries: A Pilot Study Example

Pressure injuries are a significant health problem, often resulting from pressure, friction, and impaired tissue perfusion, and are particularly common in individuals in intensive care, those with immobility, and those with chronic diseases. The literature extensively addresses interventions such as pressure reduction, the use of appropriate support surfaces, wound care practices, and nutritional support in the prevention and treatment of pressure injuries. However, the role of manual therapies aimed at improving circulation and lymphatic flow, such as manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), in pressure injuries has been examined in a limited number of studies. This research aims to fill a significant gap in the literature by evaluating the potential effects of manual lymphatic drainage on reducing edema, improving tissue perfusion, and supporting the wound healing process in individuals with pressure injuries.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Pressure Injuries; MANUEL LENFATIK DRENAJ
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Experimental; Other: Control

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: rukiye kökkız, LECTURER; Phone Number: +90 507 140 68 98; Email: rky_kokkiz@hotmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Presence of pressure injury in the sacrum region
• Volunteer to participate in the study
• Being over 18 years of age
• Being hospitalized in the anesthesia intensive care unit

Exclusion Criteria:

• Chronic illness that may affect pressure injury healing (malnutrition, hypertension, and diabetes)
• Discharge during the investigation process
• Death during the investigation process
• Acute cellulitis
• Severe heart failure
• Renal failure
• Tuberculosis
• Superior vena cava obstruction

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Manual lymphatic drainage group; Individuals will be randomly assigned to intervention and control groups in a 1:1 ratio via the website random.org. The Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool will be administered to all individuals by the researchers. The size of the wound (length*depth*width) will be measured and recorded. Standard care will be applied to the control group. The experimental group will receive standard care along with manual lymphatic drainage according to the protocol below. Afterwards, the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool will be administered to all individuals by the researchers, and the size of the wound (length*depth*width) will be measured and recorded.	Other: Experimental; Individuals will be randomly assigned to intervention and control groups in a 1:1 ratio via the website random.org. The Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool will be administered to all individuals by the researchers. The size of the wound (length*depth*width) will be measured and recorded. Standard care will be applied to the control group. The experimental group will receive standard care along with manual lymphatic drainage according to the protocol below. Afterwards, the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool will be administered to all individuals by the researchers, and the size of the wound (length*depth*width) will be measured and recorded.
Active Comparator: comparison group	Other: Control; Standard care practices will include regular position changes for patients, use of supportive surfaces to reduce pressure, maintenance of skin integrity, and keeping the wound area clean. Wound cleaning will be performed with sterile solutions, appropriate debridement methods will be applied in the presence of necrotic tissue, and suitable dressing materials will be selected according to the condition of the wound bed. In addition, patients' nutritional status, hydration level, and signs of infection will be regularly assessed, and necessary supportive treatments will be provided.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Effect of manual lymphatic drainage	The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of manual lymphatic drainage on the healing level of pressure injuries. Wound healing will be assessed considering the wound stage (Stage 1-2-3-4, unstageable stage, and deep tissue injury) and size (length*width*depth).	3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Rukiye Kokkiz

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 19, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 25, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 1, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 1, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 25, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Skin Diseases; Skin Ulcer; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Pressure Ulcer
• Other Study ID Numbers: Pressure Injury - MLD

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No