Silver ring splints improve dexterity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

[Guest guest]

Arthritis Rheum. 2004 Dec 15;51(6):947-51.

Silver ring splints improve dexterity in patients with rheumatoid

arthritis.

Zijlstra TR, Heijnsdijk-Rouwenhorst L, Rasker JJ.

Medisch Spectrum Twente Hospital, Enschede, The Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Silver Ring Splints (SRSs) on

hand function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: RA

patients with stable disease and finger deformities eligible for

splinting received 1 or more SRSs. Primary outcome was dexterity, which

was measured with the Sequential Occupational Dexterity Assessment

(SODA). Secondary outcome measures were self-reported hand function

(Dutch Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2), hand pain, grip and

pinch strength, Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28), and

patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Seventeen patients (median age 65 years;

median disease duration 21 years) received a total of 72 SRSs. After 1

year, 48 SRSs were regularly used. Two patients dropped out because of

adverse events related to SRSs. In the remaining 15 patients, SODA

dexterity scores increased significantly (median 71 at baseline, 81 at

3 months, and 85 at 12 months), Wilcoxon signed ranks test P=0.005 and

P=0.026. DAS28 scores did not change at 3 months and improved slightly

after 12 months (-0.5; P=0.019). Grip strength, self-reported hand

function, and hand pain showed no significant changes. Eleven patients

stated they would continue using their splints. CONCLUSION: SRSs can

improve dexterity in selected patients with rheumatoid hand

deformities. For a satisfactory result, careful patient preassessment

and optimal adjustment of SRSs are essential.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?

cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=15593101 & dopt=Abstract

a