Do relative motion flexion orthoses improve proximal interphalangeal joint extension following traumatic finger injury or surgery? A randomised controlled trial

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Finger injury; Finger surgery; PIPJ movement restriction; Rehabilitation; Orthotic intervention; Musculoskeletal - Other muscular and skeletal disorders; Injuries and Accidents - Fractures; Physical Medicine / Rehabilitation - Other physical medicine / rehabilitation

• Registration Number: ACTRN12624000897561
• Lead Sponsor: Macquarie University

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2024-07-23
• Last Update Posted: 5 August 2024

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ot yet recruiting
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 56

Inclusion Criteria

Participants will be eligible to participate in the trial if they:
- 18 years and over
- attending hand therapy following traumatic finger injury or surgery resulting in a >/= 20° active proximal interaphalangeal joint (PIPJ) extension deficit
- multi-digit injury (two or three injured fingers, with the finger with the greatest PIPJ deficit included)
- PIPJ movement restrictions resulting from hand injury not directly affecting the PIPJ but causing secondary stiffness due to immobilization.
- treating therapist deems it is clinically appropriate given the nature and stage of injury
- are able to provide written informed consent prior to enrolment in the study.

Exclusion Criteria

Participants will be excluded if they are attending therapy for:
- injury to all four fingers (as the relative motion orthosis cannot be used)
- Dupuytren’s contracture or post-contracture release surgery
- burns
- amputation
- trigger finger
- neurological condition as the primary cause of PIPJ movement restrictions
- inflammatory conditions as the primary cause of PIPJ movement restrictions
- previous injury to the same finger resulting in movement restrictions

They will also be excluded if the below apply:
- previous relative motion orthotic intervention for the current injury
- those unable to provide informed consent in English
- do not agree to follow up for treatment at a clinic participating in the trial.

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Isolated active proximal interphalangeal joint extension [Measured using hand-held plastic finger goniometer, in degrees, using a dorsal approach. Participant seated with elbow supported, forearm vertical, wrist neutral. Metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ) positioned in neutral. Participant asked to ‘straighten the finger as much as possible until mild discomfort’, as per American Society of Hand Therapy (ASHT) guidelines. Pain during range of motion assessment not to exceed 6/10. Measured x 3 to improve reliability and average of three measurements recorded. Baseline and six-weeks after commencement of intervention ]