A Comparison of Video Versus Written Instructions for Early Motion Flexors Rehabilitation

Flexor tendon injuries are prevalent, particularly among the working-age population, leading to significant disability and financial burden, with annual costs ranging from $240 to $409 million in the United States. Effective rehabilitation is crucial to prevent complications like stiffness and adhesions. Advances in surgical techniques, such as multi-strand core sutures, have enabled early active rehabilitation. Previous studies indicate the benefits of video-assisted therapy and education in various medical contexts, suggesting that video instructions could similarly enhance compliance and outcomes in hand flexor rehabilitation. The study aims to assess the efficacy of video instructions versus written or verbal instructions for early motion rehabilitation following hand flexor repair.

The study consists of a single-center single-blinded randomized control trial comparing the communication methods of instructions for early motion rehabilitation following hand flexor repairs. All procedures will be performed under Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT). The sample size will consist of 60 participants. The subjects will be randomly assigned (1:1 randomization) to one of two groups; the experimental group will receive video instructions, while the control group written and verbal instructions. Both groups will be surgically managed by two board-certified orthopaedic hand surgeons (i.e., Christian Foy, MD & Eric Astacio, MD) at a supra-tertiary local hospital (i.e., Oncologic Hospital) under the same operative approach (i.e., six-strand flexor repair). All the subjects will receive the standard of care including a dorsal blocking splint and follow-up visits in hand clinic.

Data collection methods include: surveys, questionnaires (i.e., three - patient satisfaction, pain levels, and self-efficacy), clinical assessments (i.e., ROM, grip strength and complication rates), and communication with the therapist to assess exercise adherence and frequency.

The statistical analysis plan for this study involves summarizing the baseline characteristics of the study population and primary/secondary outcomes using descriptive statistics. Chi-square will be used to compare bivariate categorical variables while t-test will be used to analyze continuous non-parametric variables. A multivariate analysis will be used to control for potential confounder and assess the independent effect of the instruction method on outcomes. A 95% confidence interval with an alpha of 0.05 will be considered statistically significant. Microsoft Excel and STATA software will be used for statistical analysis.

A waiver from the IRB will be requested to gain authorization for the release of health information. All patient records will be kept under use for the duration of the study. The estimated duration of this study is 1 year.