Compression Therapy in Patients Aged 65 and Older with Late Stage II Secondary Lower Limb Lymphedema.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to clarify the relationship between selection of compression stockings and grip strength in older outpatients with secondary lower limb lymphedema following gynecologic cancer surgery. METHODS: This retrospective observational study involved 71 outpatients aged ≥65 years with late-stage II (International Society of Lymphology) secondary lower limb lymphedema requiring compression therapy after gynecologic cancer surgery. We investigated the patient's profile, grip strength, and the status of compression therapy. Patients were divided into early-older (65-74 years; n = 41) and late-older (75-86 years; n = 30) groups, and outcomes were compared. Additionally, patients were divided by compression stocking types: a flat-knit stocking group (n = 51) and a circular-knit stocking group (n = 20). RESULTS: All patients continued compression therapy during the observation period between September 2022 and April 2025. Grip strength was comparable between the early-older and late-older patient groups. However, the flat-knit stocking group had significantly greater grip strength (21.1 kg) than the circular-knit stocking group (19.1 kg) (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Even late-older patients could continue to use flat-knit stockings as long as their grip strength was maintained.