Taping to Control Edema in Patients With Forearm Plaster for Wrist Fracture.

Not Applicable

Completed

Brief Summary: Wrist fractures are a very common event affecting patients of all ages and are estimated to account for approximately 10% -25% of all fractures. 70-90% of fractures are treated with closed reduction and forearm cast. In 2019, 17.4% of wrist fractured patients treated with a plaster cast at the Orthopedic Emergency Department (OED) of the Local Health Unit ("Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale", AUSL) of Piacenza had a second access to the OED for edema, pain or "intolerance to the plaster cast ".

In literature, there are several studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of adhesive elastic tape for edema control, mostly lymphedema secondary to breast cancer or post-operative edema after knee arthroplasty, although a definitive evidence is still needed.

With this trial, the investigators aim to evaluate the tape effectiveness in counteracting hand edema formation in wrist fractured adult patients treated with forearm cast.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Patients with growth plates closed on radiographic examination
Unilateral distal radius fracture associated or not with ulnar styloid fracture
Wrist fracture requiring bloodless reduction and immobilization with a forearm cast

Exclusion Criteria

Patients with multiple fractures
Polytrauma patients
Patients with previous plegia / paralysis of the fractured limb
Patients with previous lymphedema of the fractured limb
Patients with access to the OED during the night when the organization does not guarantee the presence of 2 nurses
Wounds or abrasions in the area of application of the tape
Acute thrombosis (upper limb veins)
Scars not perfectly healed in the area of application of the tape
Dermatitis, psoriatic manifestations or erythema in the area of application of the tape
Known allergy to acrylic (patch glue)
Solid neoplasms

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Thumb Circumference	baseline and 1 week	thumb circumference difference between baseline (T0) and follow-up on day 7 (T1)
Circumference of the Other 4 Fingers All Together	baseline and 1 week	difference between T0 and T1 in the circumference of the other 4 fingers (index, middle, ring and pinky) all side by side, measured at the first phalanx

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of Participants With OED Entry	1 week	Number of Participants with at least one OED entry for "intolerance to plaster cast" between T0 and T1
Pain Degree by Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)	1 week	pain degree by NRS at T1. The NRS is an 11-point scale used to assess pain intensity, ranging from 0 to 10. A score of 0 indicates no pain, while 10 represents the worst pain imaginable. The NRS is a simple and quick method for patients to self-report their pain level.
Number of Participants Taking Painkillers	1 week	Number of Participants that have been taken painkillers in the 4 hours prior to T1

Locations (1): Orthopedic ER o Orthopedic Emergency Department (OED) of the Local Health Unit ("Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale", AUSL) of Piacenza
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Piacenza, Italy
Orthopedic ER o Orthopedic Emergency Department (OED) of the Local Health Unit ("Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale", AUSL) of Piacenza
🇮🇹Piacenza, Italy