Comparison of Custom-made Versus Prefabricated Thumb Splinting for Carpometacarpal Arthrosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Filed under Reviews, Uncategorized
Baradaran, A., Baradaran, A., Ebrahimzadeh, M. H., Kachooei, A. R., Rivlin, M., & Beredjiklian, P. (2018). Comparison of Custom-made Versus Prefabricated Splint for Carpometacarpal Arthrosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. The archives of bone and joint surgery, 6(6), 478–485.
Article Review By: Dalton Busch
The Skinny – A systematic review and meta-analysis were composed to compare the effectiveness of prefabricated orthoses versus a custom-made thermoplastic splint. The splints were created to manage carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis (OA). A total of five randomized clinical trials with a total of 230 patients were analyzed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
In the weeds – Within the five randomized controlled trials, the researchers analyzed patients’ disability scores, pain scores, grip, and pinch strength, and integrated the data properly. All of the trials assessed were comparing results of the CMC OA orthoses as a non-surgical alternative. The primary outcome measure included was the Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH). Secondary measures that were extracted by the researchers included pain ratings, grip strength, and pinch strength. Further, the researchers looked into overall demographics, sample size, study design, and the type of splint utilized on the affected thumb.
Bringing it home – Overall findings from the systematic review pointed towards a statistical difference in the overall disability scores of patients who wore the prefabricated versus the custom, showing preference to the prefabricated. The secondary data relating to pain and grip/pinch strength both showed overall improvement wearing either the prefabricated or custom-made orthotic.
Rating (0-5) – 4: This systematic review and meta-analysis were done across five clinical trials with a large sample size of 230 patients. The review shows the effectiveness of both custom and prefabricated orthoses but shows lessened disability scores for prefabricated. The mean follow-up testing was 8.1 weeks which is a short-term retest as CMC OA orthoses could become a lifelong solution for patients who fall within this category. Improved research may look into long-term follow-up for more accurate data.
1 Comment
Leave a Comment
More To Read
Test for Distal Radial Ulnar Joint of the Wrist
Ballottment Test for Wrist DRUJ Reliability and Validity Analysis of the Distal Radioulnar Joint Ballottement Test Nagashima, M., Omokawa, S., Hasegawa, H., Nakanishi, Y., Kawamura, K., & Tanaka, Y. (2024). Reliability and validity analysis of the distal radioulnar joint ballottement test. The Journal of Hand Surgery, 49(1), 15–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2023.10.006 The Skinny: Distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ)…
The Role of Sensory Re-education After Nerve Injury
Priya, B. A. (2012). Effectiveness of Sensory Re-education after Nerve Repair (Median or Ulnar Nerve) at the Wrist Level. Indian Journal of Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy, 6(3), 62–68. The Skinny The human nervous system is incredibly complex and, once damaged, requires significant time to repair. A previous study (Bentzel, K 2002) identifies that with peripheral…
Effectiveness of Conservative Therapy and Splinting for 1st CMC OA
Tsehaie, J., Sprekraijse, K., Wouters, R., Slijper, H., Feitz, R., Hovious, S., & Selles, R. (2018). Outcome of a Hand Orthosis and Hand Therapy for Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis in Daily Practice: A Prospective Cohort Study. American Society for Surgery of the Hand, 1-11. The skinny: Non-surgical approaches (hand therapy & orthotics) are typically the go-to for…
Comparing Edema and Lymphedema: Understanding the Differences and Treatment Approaches in Hand Therapy
Comparing Edema and Lymphedema: Understanding the Differences and Treatment Approaches in Hand Therapy As hand therapists we often encounter patients presenting with swollen arms, hands, and/ or fingers, often attributing these symptoms to various conditions. Two commonly confused terms in this area are “edema” and “lymphedema.” While both involve swelling, they have distinct causes, presentations,…
Sign-up to Get Updates Straight to Your Inbox!
Sign up with us and we will send you regular blog posts on everything hand therapy, notices every time we upload new videos and tutorials, along with handout, protocols, and other useful information.
This doesn’t surprise me as I think there is a high variability between therapist custom splint designs which may outweigh the potential benefit of having the splint custom fabricated.