Clinical effectiveness of post-operative splinting after surgical release of Dupuytren's contracture: a systematic review
2008

Effectiveness of Splinting After Dupuytren's Surgery

Sample size: 4 publication Evidence: low

Author Information

Author(s): Debbie Larson, Christina Jerosch-Herold

Primary Institution: Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust

Hypothesis

What is the effectiveness of post-operative splinting in managing Dupuytren's contracture?

Conclusion

There is some evidence supporting the use of splinting after Dupuytren's surgery, but the quality of the studies is low and results are inconclusive.

Supporting Evidence

  • Four studies met the inclusion criteria for the review.
  • Pooling of results was not possible due to heterogeneity of interventions.
  • Only one study showed a statistically significant effect of splinting on outcomes.

Takeaway

This study looked at whether wearing splints after hand surgery helps people move their fingers better, but the results were mixed and not very strong.

Methodology

A systematic review of studies evaluating the effectiveness of static or dynamic splints worn after Dupuytren's surgery.

Potential Biases

Potential biases due to non-randomized study designs and differences in pre-operative conditions among participants.

Limitations

The studies included were of low quality, lacked randomization, and had small sample sizes.

Participant Demographics

Participants included both men and women, with a focus on those over 60 years old.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2474-9-104

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