The Manchester Short Splint in the Rehab of Zone II Flexor Tendon
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Manchester Short Splint: a change to splinting practice in the rehabilitation of zone II flexor tendon repairs
IRAS ID
159054
Contact name
Fiona Peck
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital South Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
The project sets out to compare two different splints in the outcome of zone II flexor tendon injury hand therapy rehabilitation programme. Traditional hand therapy is based on using a long forearm-based splint for 6 weeks in the zone II flexor tendon injuries. We have devised a new shorter splint to use as an alternative to the traditional longer splint as there are cogent reasons for believing that permitting more wrist movement during rehabilitation will improve the range of finger movement ultimately (tenodesis effects).
The traditional splint is a forearm-based dorsal thermoplastic splint immobilizes the wrist in neutral position with a block to 30° of metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint extension. In contrast, the new Manchester short splint extends from the proximal wrist crease to the finger tips. The Manchester short splint permits maximal wrist flexion and up to 45° of wrist extension with a block to 30° of MCP joint extension.
The question we wish to answer concerns which splint is best for hand therapy regimen of zone II flexor tendon injury repairs.
We have reason to believe that the new shorter splint may be superior in terms of outcome and comfort than the traditional longer forearm-based splint that we use at present and we would like to undertake a prospective single blind study to compare the two on a group of patients who have had zone II flexor tendon injury repairs.
If we can determine a better outcome with the shorter splint than the one we are using currently we may be able to significantly impact patient outcome and experience worldwide that have this kind of surgery.We have published preliminary observational data to support the safety and efficacy of the short splint and this is clinical Level IV evidence.
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NW/1486
Date of REC Opinion
3 Feb 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion