RESEARCH - Efficacy of wrist working splints in patients with RA

August 14, 2009

Arthritis Rheum. 2008 Dec 15;59(12):1698-704.

Efficacy of wrist working splints in patients with rheumatoid

arthritis: a randomized controlled study.

Veehof MM, Taal E, Heijnsdijk-Rouwenhorst LM, van de Laar MA.

University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of wrist working splints after

a period of splinting in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS: We performed a 4-week randomized controlled trial among 33 RA

patients with wrist arthritis. Patients were randomly allocated to the

splinting group (n = 17) or the control group (n = 16). Patients in

the splinting group received a prefabricated wrist working splint and

were instructed to use this splint as much as possible during the day.

The primary outcome measure was average wrist pain during the past

week, measured using a visual analog scale (VAS). Secondary outcome

measures were grip strength and functional ability. The latter was

measured using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand

questionnaire and the short version of the Sequential Occupational

Dexterity Assessment. Measurements were performed at baseline and

after 4 weeks. Performance tests were performed without splint.

Differences in change scores between the splinting and the control

group were analyzed using analysis of covariance. To indicate the

magnitude of the treatment effects, effect sizes were calculated.

RESULTS: A large and highly significant treatment effect on wrist pain

was found. VAS pain scores decreased by 32% in the splinting group and

increased by 17% in the control group. Small and nonsignificant

treatment effects were found with regard to nonsplinted grip strength

and functional ability.

CONCLUSION: Prefabricated wrist working splints are highly effective

in reducing wrist pain after 4 weeks of splint wearing in RA patients

with wrist arthritis.

PMID: 19035420

Not an MD

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