What is the best way to treat hand swelling?
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN94083271 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN94083271 |
| Protocol serial number | 35261 |
| Sponsor | University of East Anglia |
| Funder | National Institute for Health Research Trainees Co-ordinating Centre (TCC); Grant Codes: CDRF-2014-05-064 |
- Submission date
- 14/08/2017
- Registration date
- 16/08/2017
- Last edited
- 17/05/2021
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Musculoskeletal Diseases
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Following an injury or surgery to the hand it may become swollen. This is a normal part of the healing process, but 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, therapists are not sure what the best methods are. The aim of this study is to compare two treatments that help reduce hand swelling, compression and elasticated tape, to establish which treatment works best.
Who can participate?
Patients aged over 18 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
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated into two groups to receive either treatment as usual (compression) or the study treatment (elasticated tape) with full instruction from a hand therapist. Treatment as usual is some form of compression (called a compression glove, compression finger sleeve, or elasticated finger wrap) plus elevation and massage. The study treatment is elasticated tape plus elevation and massage. 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 three brief questionnaires, taking no more than 30 minutes. The same four assessments are repeated 4 and 12 weeks later by a research therapist who is not involved in treatment. Where possible, this is combined with usual hand therapy appointments. If this is not possible participants' travel and parking costs are reimbursed. Other aspects of hand therapy treatment continue as normal and are monitored by the treating hand therapist as needed.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
This study will help to finding out which treatments work for hand swelling after an injury or surgery. This could help future patients with hand swelling and future studies into treatments for hand swelling. There are very few risks associated with taking part in this study. Treatment is stopped or changed at the discretion of the treating hand therapist in the following cases: worsening swelling or other relevant symptoms (pain, stiffness), or if a participant no longer finds the treatment acceptable and wishes to discontinue. Details of barriers to using treatments (such as appearance, cleanliness etc) are recorded in a diary and questionnaire. A possible disadvantage is that therapy sessions take a little longer. If additional parking charges are incurred due to the study these can be reimbursed.
Where is the study run from?
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Trust (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2017 to June 2018
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Leanne Miller
leanne.miller@uea.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
Elizabeth Fry Building room 1.33
University of East Anglia
Norwich Research Park
Norwich
NR4 7TJ
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)160 359 7206 |
|---|---|
| leanne.miller@uea.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomised; Interventional; Design type: Treatment, Education or Self-Management, Rehabilitation |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | The treatment of sub-acute hand oedema post trauma: a pilot randomized controlled trial |
| Study acronym | STRETCH |
| Study objectives | The purpose of this project is to compare two treatments that help reduce hand swelling, compression and elasticated tape, and establish which treatment works best. |
| Ethics approval(s) | East of Scotland Research Ethics Service, 02/08/2017, ref: 17/ES/0098 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Specialty: Musculoskeletal disorders, Primary sub-specialty: Other; UKCRC code/ Disease: Other/ General symptoms and signs |
| Intervention | Participants will be randomised using sealed envelopes to receive either: 1. Treatment as usual: compression (glove, wrap or digital sleeve) with elevation and massage 2. Trial treatment: elasticated Kinesiology tape with elevation and massage 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 three brief questionnaires, taking no more than 30 minutes. The same four assessments will be repeated 4 and 12 weeks later by a research therapist who is not involved in treatment. Where possible, this will be combined with usual hand therapy appointments. If this is not possible patients' travel and parking costs will be reimbursed. Other aspects of hand therapy treatment will continue as normal and will be monitored by the treating hand therapist as needed. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
1. Hand volume in millilitres, assessed using the Volumeter at baseline, 4 and 12 weeks |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Function, assessed using the Patient Evaluation Measure (patient rated outcome measure) at baseline, 4 and 12 weeks |
| Completion date | 31/07/2018 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 100 |
| Total final enrolment | 26 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Over 18 years old 2. Male or female 3. Referred to hand therapy post trauma or surgery 4. Hand oedema confirmed by a hand therapist as requiring hand therapy intervention 5. Reads and understands English language 6. Willing to take part and has full understanding of the randomization and allocation to treatment process 7. Able to give full informed consent |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Patients more than 6-weeks after their injury and/or surgery whose oedema is not classified as sub-acute 2. Patients who are within the specified sub-acute timeframe but have already commenced oedema management treatments 3. Patients with diagnosed lymphedema, acute infections, deep vein thrombosis, blood clot or haematoma, active cancer, chronic heart failure, cardiac problems or renal dysfunction/failure/kidney disease, pulmonary problems or any other factor (physical or mental health) that may affect the patient’s ability to adequately and safely monitor the use of tapes or gloves 4. Patients in the first 4 weeks of tendon repairs where removal of their splints in order to apply a glove would be contraindicated 5. Patients who do not have someone available to assist in the reapplication of kinesiology tape every 5-5 days, and who do not feel confident to reapply the tape themselves 6. Fragile skin (elderly and long-term steroid use) and open wounds 7. Patients with excessive amount of hair on their hand/forearms who would find the tape too uncomfortable to be removed every 3-5 days and who may find the pull on the hairs from the tape an unacceptable side effect of using this method (Often patients will shave the section where the tape is being applied if this is deemed necessary and acceptable to the patient) |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/09/2017 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/03/2018 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
Norwich
NR4 7UY
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Leanne Miller (leanne.miller@uea.ac.uk). This would be in the form of Excel spreadsheets with anonymised outcome measure results for the three data collection points for the analyses as stated in the protocol. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic results | 17/05/2021 | 17/05/2021 | No | No | |
| HRA research summary | 26/07/2023 | No | No | ||
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
| Protocol file | version v1 | 30/05/2017 | 02/04/2019 | No | No |
| Study website | Study website | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Additional files
- ISRCTN94083271_PROTOCOL_finalv1_30May17.pdf
- Uploaded 02/04/2019
- ISRCTN94083271_BasicResults_17May21.pdf
- Uploaded 17/05/2021
Editorial Notes
17/05/2021: The basic results of this trial have been uploaded as an additional file. Total final enrolment added.
02/04/2019: Uploaded protocol (not peer reviewed).
11/07/2018: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The overall trial end date was changed from 30/06/2018 to 31/07/2018.
2. The intention to publish date was changed from 30/12/2017 to 30/12/2019.
