What is the best way to treat hand swelling?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The treatment of sub-acute hand oedema post trauma- a pilot randomized controlled trial.
IRAS ID
228812
Contact name
Leanne Miller
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 29 days
Research summary
Following an injury or surgery to the hand it may become swollen. This is a normal part of the healing process, however, swelling which persists can have a negative impact on hand function and can delay recovery. This can require more frequent appointments, delays in return to work and difficulties with activities of daily living. Therapists use different methods to reduce the swelling in the hand to prevent it from causing long term problems and to restore movement and function. However, we are not sure what the best methods are. We would like to compare two treatments that help reduce hand swelling; compression and elasticated tape. The purpose of this project is to establish which treatment works best.
Eligible patients will be those who have had a hand injury or surgery and have hand swelling that needs treatment by a hand therapist at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. Participants will be put into one of 2 groups by a random process i.e like the toss of a coin, and will either receive treatment as usual (compression) or the trial treatment (elasticated tape) with full instruction from a hand therapist. Participation in this study involves having one assessment of the swelling in the hand (inserting the hand into a container of water called a Volumeter) and completing 3 brief questionnaires, taking no more than 30 minutes. The same 4 assessments will be repeated 4 and 12 weeks later by a research therapist who is not involved in treatment. Where possible, we will try to combine this with usual hand therapy appointments. If this is not possible we will reimburse patients' travel and parking costs. Other aspects of hand therapy treatment will continue as normal and will be monitored by the treating hand therapist as needed.REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1
REC reference
17/ES/0098
Date of REC Opinion
1 Aug 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion