Abstract
Aim: The use of traction orthoses for complex finger fractures is not a common intervention though some research purports its efficacy as an alternative treatment approach to surgery in some scenarios. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of traction orthoses as a first-tier intervention in the management of displaced extra-articular proximal or middle phalangeal fractures.
Methods: This retrospective, consecutive longitudinal case series examined total active of range of movement (TAROM) in patients on discharge from hand therapy after being treated in traction. Data were collected on the time from injury to traction,
duration of traction, injury type, age, sex, hand dominance, number of therapy sessions, duration from injury to discharge and TAROM at discharge. TAROM outcomes were categorised using the criteria recommended by the American Society of Surgery of
the Hand. Categorical variables were summarised using frequency and percentages and continuous data as mean and standard deviation. Any potential correlations between TAROM and time from injury to discharge were analysed using Pearson’s correlation
(two-tailed) (p < 0.05).
Results: In total, 24 patients were referred for traction. Three patients went on to have surgery and three patients were lost to follow-up. Most injuries treated were to the shaft with an oblique pattern to the proximal phalanx (n ¼ 8, 33.33%) and the middle
phalanx (n ¼ 4, 16.67%). Mean TAROM was 230.89 (SD 22.55) indicating, on average, a good outcome. The mean time from injury to discharge was 65.56 days (SD 30.43). There was no correlation observed between time from injury to discharge and TAROM on
discharge (r ¼ 0.18, p ¼ 0.48).
Conclusion: Traction orthoses are a cost-effective intervention in the management of extra-articular phalangeal fractures though further studies are necessary. Larger sample sizes will allow for more granular analysis of different fracture classifications.
Methods: This retrospective, consecutive longitudinal case series examined total active of range of movement (TAROM) in patients on discharge from hand therapy after being treated in traction. Data were collected on the time from injury to traction,
duration of traction, injury type, age, sex, hand dominance, number of therapy sessions, duration from injury to discharge and TAROM at discharge. TAROM outcomes were categorised using the criteria recommended by the American Society of Surgery of
the Hand. Categorical variables were summarised using frequency and percentages and continuous data as mean and standard deviation. Any potential correlations between TAROM and time from injury to discharge were analysed using Pearson’s correlation
(two-tailed) (p < 0.05).
Results: In total, 24 patients were referred for traction. Three patients went on to have surgery and three patients were lost to follow-up. Most injuries treated were to the shaft with an oblique pattern to the proximal phalanx (n ¼ 8, 33.33%) and the middle
phalanx (n ¼ 4, 16.67%). Mean TAROM was 230.89 (SD 22.55) indicating, on average, a good outcome. The mean time from injury to discharge was 65.56 days (SD 30.43). There was no correlation observed between time from injury to discharge and TAROM on
discharge (r ¼ 0.18, p ¼ 0.48).
Conclusion: Traction orthoses are a cost-effective intervention in the management of extra-articular phalangeal fractures though further studies are necessary. Larger sample sizes will allow for more granular analysis of different fracture classifications.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | S6-S6 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Journal | Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) |
| Volume | 49(2S) |
| Issue number | S1-S13 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - 9 Nov 2024 |
Keywords
- Orthosis
- Fractures
- Phalangeal
