Subjective vs objective outcomes following flexor tendon repair

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    An observational study to establish the correlation between subjective and objective outcome measures in adult patients following flexor tendon repair.

  • IRAS ID

    195308

  • Contact name

    Sally Hunt

  • Contact email

    S.L.Hunt2@newcastle.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

  • ISRCTN Number

    ISRCTN00000000

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    NCT00000000

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    n/a, n/a

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 10 months, 3 days

  • Research summary

    A study comparing patient-reported outcomes and objective outcome measures in patients following flexor tendon repair in the hand.

    Flexor Tendon Injury of the hand describes damage to one or both of the tendons which bend the fingers. It can present long-term implications for the patient. Surgery is needed to repair the injury.

    Many research studies have examined outcome measures in these patients. The outcomes identify the patient's hand function at the end of their recovery. Most of this research examines objective outcomes such as the movement the patients regain in their fingers. Much less is understood about the patients’ thoughts of their recovery (the subjective outcome). The research on subjective outcomes has identified that patients can be disappointed with their hand use even when most of their movement has returned. This is because the movement in someone’s fingers does not always match how well their hand can be used.

    This study will compare two different outcome measures to see how closely they match. This should improve the care of these patients by understanding their opinions more clearly. This means that patients could be advised what to expect after a flexor tendon repair more clearly from the start.

    Adult patients who are seen at the RVI Hand Clinic in Newcastle upon Tyne following a flexor tendon repair can take part in the study.
    The study will involve measuring the amount of movement in the patients’ fingers. The patients will also complete a questionnaire about how well they can use their hand for everyday activities. This will take place once a month at their routine Hand Clinic appointments, until they are discharged.

    The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will fund the research.

    The study will run for 10 months from September 2016 or until enough participants (51) have taken part.

  • REC name

    South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    16/SW/0258

  • Date of REC Opinion

    21 Sep 2016

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion