The Senami Wrist Supporter for patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

One of the wrist orthoses, the Senami Wrist Supporter (SWS), was applied to 203 rheumatoid wrists in 112 patients who had persistent wrist pain and restricted forearm rotation due to synovitis and instability at the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ). The study was performed by sending out a questionnaire to the patients about the use of the SWS at home, and examining grip strength and forearm rotation with and without the use of the SWS. The average age of the patients was 61 years, and the average follow-up period was 18 months. The rate of compliance of wearing the SWS at home was 73% on average. It was higher in wrists of Larsen-Dale-Eek (LDE) grades 0, I, and II (normal, slight, and definite early abnormality) than in those of grades III, and IV (medium and severe destructive abnormality). Decreased pain was noted in 52% of the wrists at the time of applying the SWS. The SWS was not used in 10% of the wrists because of remission of pain at follow-up. Grip strength increased significantly (P Ͻ 0.01) and so did forearm rotation (P Ͻ 0.05) by the stabilizing effect of the SWS on the unstable DRUJ. The use of the SWS was confirmed to be an efficient measure to treat painful rheumatoid wrists with early stages of disease at the DRUJ.