Patient outcomes for finger fractures and joint injuries
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cohort Study For Patient Outcomes In The Management Of Finger Fractures and Joint Injuries
IRAS ID
254090
Contact name
Alexia Karantana
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 30 days
Research summary
The rationale behind this study is that there is not a lot of evidence to guide the management of finger fractures/joint injuries and decisions are based on expert opinion. There is a lot of variation in practice.
This study aims to generate data on the management of finger fractures/joint injuries and to inform future randomised controlled trials in the field.
Patients will be recruited from fracture clinic at Queens Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham, consented and given questionnaires to fill in. The patients will be sent similar questionnaires at 6, 12 and 24 weeks. The questionnaires will focus on patient reported outcomes, i.e. issues that matter to patients themselves. The aim is to understand the patient recovery from the patients' point of view. One goal of this study is to calculate the improvement in clinical status at 6 months. This will help the development of future studies.
As part of this study, a nested Qualitative study will take place. 15-20 patients from the cohort will be invited for an interview. The interviews will be semi-structured. The questions will be about the patients' experience of recovery as well as their views on taking part in research.
At the end of the study, there will be one or two focus groups which will be an opportunity to discuss the research findings and clarify emergent issues that relate to future research in the field.Lay summary of study results: This study examined recovery after common finger fractures and joint injuries in adults attending fracture clinics. These injuries are often considered minor but can significantly affect daily activities, work, and quality of life. There is limited high-quality evidence to guide treatment decisions, and variation in practice exists. The purpose of this study was to better understand recovery and to inform the design of future clinical trials.
Adults with specific types of finger fractures or joint injuries were recruited from fracture clinics and followed for six months. Their treatment was not altered by participation in the study. Participants completed questionnaires at the time of injury and at 6, 12, and 24 weeks, reporting on hand function, symptoms, and quality of life. Information about treatment and complications was also collected from medical records.
The study found that recovery varied by injury type and treatment. While many patients improved over time, a substantial proportion had ongoing symptoms or functional limitations at six months. The patient-reported outcome measures used in the study were able to detect meaningful changes over time. The study also established estimates of what constitutes a clinically important improvement in hand function, which is important for planning future trials.
In addition, interviews with participants showed that although some finger injuries are perceived as minor, they can have a significant personal and functional impact. Participants highlighted the importance of pain, hand function, appearance, and return to normal activities. They also identified factors that influence willingness to participate in research, including understanding the purpose of the study and confidence that treatment decisions are appropriate.
Overall, the study has provided important information about recovery patterns, meaningful outcome measurement, and patient perspectives. These findings will help design future high-quality clinical trials to improve the management of finger fractures and joint injuries.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/WM/0087
Date of REC Opinion
1 Apr 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion