Practice patterns following carpometacarpal (CMC) arthroplasty

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2022

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Therapy following thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) arthroplasty is a complex issue as there are multiple surgical procedures and postoperative rehabilitative programs.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To gather information from therapy practitioners on practice patterns following thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint arthroplasty.

METHODS: A web-based survey was sent to 3221 occupational and physical therapists in a single stage via online technology.

RESULTS: Six-hundred and one (601) therapists responded to the survey. Key findings included: Most therapists (45.5%) indicated that the therapy program they use was developed in collaboration with the referring surgeon. In addition, most patients received a plaster splint or long thumb spica orthosis following surgery, but time frames for use varied widely. Fifty-five percent of respondents waited until after 22 days postsurgery to initiate active flexion/extension of the wrist, while 19.5% initiated wrist flexion/extension between eight and 14 days postsurgery. Ten percent of respondents initiated active thumb flexion/extension within the first postoperative week, while 55% of respondents did not initiate thumb motion until 22 or more days following surgery. Few respondents (5.7%) indicated that they used a published evidence-based treatment program to guide therapy following thumb CMC arthroplasty surgery.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that multiple therapy programs exist and rehabilitation following thumb CMC arthroplasty predominantly utilizes clinical expertise.

Publisher

Hanley & Belfus, Inc.

Publication Title

Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists

ISSN

1545-004X

Volume

35

Issue

1

First Page

67

Last Page

73

DOI

10.1016/j.jht.2020.10.016

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