Objective  To explore effect of systematic acupuncture rehabilitation training for lymphedema of lower limbs after cervical cancer operation.

  Methods  Totally 94 patients with lymphedema of lower limbs after cervical cancer operation were selected and randomly divided into control group and study group, with 47 cases in each group. The patients in the control group were conducted with routine nursing, while the patients in the study group were conducted with acupuncture combined with systematic rehabilitation nursing intervention on the basis of the control group. Effect was compared between two groups at three months after intervention.

  Results  After nursing, the ratios of patients with grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ lymphedema of lower limbs in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After 3 months of nursing, the circumferences of thighs and calves in the study group were significantly smaller than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After nursing, the scores of indexes of Gynecological Cancer Lymphedema Questionnaire (GCLQ) decreased significantly in both groups, and the heaviness score, pain score, numbness score, edema score, swelling score, infection score, limb function score and total score of the study group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  Acupuncture combined with systematic rehabilitation training can significantly improve the degree of lymphedema of lower limbs after cervical cancer surgery.