Establishment of a long-term secondary lymphedema animal model in the rodent hindlimb

This study demonstrates that the newly established mouse hindlimb lymphedema model successfully replicates the chronic, severe, and irreversible nature of clinical secondary lymphedema. The combination of the folding suture technique, radiation-induced inhibition of lymphangiogenesis, and immobilization effectively induces and maintains the pathology. This model provides a reliable preclinical platform for in-depth investigation of secondary lymphedema pathophysiology and for the development and validation of novel therapeutic strategies.