A Multi-center Study Comparing Two Styles of Orthoses for Individuals with Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis

Systematic review of design and effects of splints and exercise programs in hand osteoarthritis

“…Seven studies assessed the effectiveness of splints (14, 17, 42, 44–47), 3 assessed the effectiveness of exercises (16, 43, 48), and 2 assessed the effectiveness of a combination of splints and exercises (15, 49). Six studies compared splints of different design (42, 44–47, 49), and 3 studies included a control group that did not use any splint (14, 17, 45). Two of the exercise studies compared exercise versus treatment as usual (43, 48), while the third exercise study compared exercise with a sham hand cream (16).…”

“…Of the 2 studies combining splints and exercises, 1 compared 1 splint and exercise program with another splint and exercise program (49), while the other compared different doses of splints and exercises (15). Participants in all but 3 studies (43, 44, 48) had radiograph‐documented OA of the CMC1, and in 4 studies, participants with stage 4 OA were excluded (17, 46, 47, 49). Of the included studies, 9 had a high risk of bias (15, 42–49), 1 had a moderate risk (16), while 2 had a low risk of bias (14, 17).…”

“…Participants in all but 3 studies (43, 44, 48) had radiograph‐documented OA of the CMC1, and in 4 studies, participants with stage 4 OA were excluded (17, 46, 47, 49). Of the included studies, 9 had a high risk of bias (15, 42–49), 1 had a moderate risk (16), while 2 had a low risk of bias (14, 17). Additional information was provided by the authors in 3 studies (15, 45, 47).…”

“…Of the included studies, 9 had a high risk of bias (15, 42–49), 1 had a moderate risk (16), while 2 had a low risk of bias (14, 17). Additional information was provided by the authors in 3 studies (15, 45, 47).…”

“…Three of the splints were designed to support the CMC1 only. All of these were custom made from a rigid material, thereby immobilizing the joint (44, 46, 47). Seven of the splints supported or immobilized the wrist, CMC1, and metacarpophalangeal thumb joint (MCP1); 3 of these were custom made in a rigid material and prescribed for day and night use (44) or night use only (14, 15).…”