RESEARCH - Silver ring splints improve dexterity in patients with RA

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Arthritis Rheum. 2004 Dec 15;51(6):947-51.

Silver ring splints improve dexterity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Zijlstra TR, Heijnsdijk-Rouwenhorst L, Rasker JJ.

Medisch Spectrum Twente Hospital, Enschede, The Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Silver Ring Splints (SRSs) on hand

function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: RA patients

with stable disease and finger deformities eligible for splinting received 1

or more SRSs. Primary outcome was dexterity, which was measured with the

Sequential Occupational Dexterity Assessment (SODA). Secondary outcome

measures were self-reported hand function (Dutch Arthritis Impact

Measurement Scales 2), hand pain, grip and pinch strength, Disease Activity

Score in 28 joints (DAS28), and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Seventeen

patients (median age 65 years; median disease duration 21 years) received a

total of 72 SRSs. After 1 year, 48 SRSs were regularly used. Two patients

dropped out because of adverse events related to SRSs. In the remaining 15

patients, SODA dexterity scores increased significantly (median 71 at

baseline, 81 at 3 months, and 85 at 12 months), Wilcoxon signed ranks test

P=0.005 and P=0.026. DAS28 scores did not change at 3 months and improved

slightly after 12 months (-0.5; P=0.019). Grip strength, self-reported hand

function, and hand pain showed no significant changes. Eleven patients

stated they would continue using their splints.

CONCLUSION: SRSs can improve dexterity in selected patients with rheumatoid

hand deformities. For a satisfactory result, careful patient preassessment

and optimal adjustment of SRSs are essential.

PMID: 15593101

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=pubmed & dopt=Abstra\

ct & list_uids=15593101

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