Wrist fractures are a very common event affecting patients of all ages and are estimated to account for approximately 10% -25% of all fractures. 70-90% of fractures are treated with closed reduction and forearm cast. In 2019, 17.4% of wrist fractured patients treated with a plaster cast at the Orthopedic Emergency Department (OED) of the Local Health Unit ("Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale", AUSL) of Piacenza had a second access to the OED for edema, pain or "intolerance to the plaster cast ". In literature, there are several studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of adhesive elastic tape for edema control, mostly lymphedema secondary to breast cancer or post-operative edema after knee arthroplasty, although a definitive evidence is still needed. With this trial, the investigators aim to evaluate the tape effectiveness in counteracting hand edema formation in wrist fractured adult patients treated with forearm cast.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
23
Application of the tape with lymphatic technique to the fingers, both dorsally and volarly, of wrist fractured patients treated with a forearm cast
Orthopedic ER o Orthopedic Emergency Department (OED) of the Local Health Unit ("Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale", AUSL) of Piacenza
Piacenza, Italy
Thumb Circumference
thumb circumference difference between baseline (T0) and follow-up on day 7 (T1)
Time frame: baseline and 1 week
Circumference of the Other 4 Fingers All Together
difference between T0 and T1 in the circumference of the other 4 fingers (index, middle, ring and pinky) all side by side, measured at the first phalanx
Time frame: baseline and 1 week
Pain Degree by Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)
pain degree by NRS at T1. The NRS is an 11-point scale used to assess pain intensity, ranging from 0 to 10. A score of 0 indicates no pain, while 10 represents the worst pain imaginable. The NRS is a simple and quick method for patients to self-report their pain level.
Time frame: 1 week
Number of Participants Taking Painkillers
Number of Participants that have been taken painkillers in the 4 hours prior to T1
Time frame: 1 week
Number of Participants With OED Entry
Number of Participants with at least one OED entry for "intolerance to plaster cast" between T0 and T1
Time frame: 1 week
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