How do I best use L-Dex baselines?
The L-Dex device software and printable report track the change in the L-Dex value over time. A healthcare professional can set any measurement as a baseline from which to document the change in the L-Dex value. Baselines may be used in the following ways. • To document the progression of the disorder from a presurgical baseline. Health care professionals may use this method to asses the early stages of lymphedema using the presurgical “normal” measurement for a patient as a baseline. • To document the progression of the disorder from a post surgical baseline. Healthcare professionals may use this to assess the early stages of lymphedema but should be conscious of making sure that the post surgical “normal” baseline measurement is not performed when post surgical swelling is present. • To document the efficacy of treatment in a patient who already has developed lymphedema.
The L-Dex device software and printable report track the change in the L-Dex value over time. A healthcare professional can set any measurement as a baseline from which to document the change in the L-Dex value. Baselines may be used in the following ways. • To document the progression of the disorder from a presurgical baseline, health care professionals may use this method to aid in their clinical assessment of unilateral lymphedema. • An increase of ten (10) L-Dex units from a patient’s baseline L-Dex value represents a change of three (3) standard deviations (3SD). This has been demonstrated in a matched normal population to be potentially clinically relevant to the medical provider in aiding in the clinical assessment of unilateral lymphedema of the arm. • For an initial assessment where no measurement history exists, a range representing 3SD either side of a normal population mean is highlighted on the L-Dex scale to aid the medical provider in their clinical assessment. Medical
