O29. The Effectiveness and Efficacy of Splints for Thumb Base Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Self-management strategies have been reported to be effective for people with thumb base osteoarthritis (OA) in spite of claims that thumb splinting can restore function there is limited evidence to support the effectiveness of these splints. Hand splints are currently recommended for hand OA by NICE and EULAR. Methods: A three-arm randomised controlled pilot trial was conducted across five UK NHS outpatient therapy departments. Patients with symptoms of thumb base OA and with an AUSCAN score for thumb base pain > 5 and of hand function > 9 were recruited and randomised to receive optimal NHS Occupational therapy care, optimal NHS Occupational therapy care plus a biomechanically active splint or optimal NHS Occupational therapy care plus a biomechanically inactive (placebo) splint. Patients were assessed at baseline and at 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the AUSCAN Osteoarthritis Hand Index (Pain). Secondary outcomes included: AUSCAN (Function and Stiffness), Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire, Global Rating of Change Scale. Mixed between-within subjects ANOVAs were conducted to compare the impact of the three interventions Results: Eighteen participants (27 OA thumbs) were recruited. Eleven females (78%) and 3 males (22%) completed the study with a mean age of 61.24 (SD=9.40); 13 (92.86%) were right-hand dominant. Seven patients were treated for bilateral thumb base OA, 4 patients were treated for right thumb base OA and 3 for left thumb base OA. Statistically significant differences were reported between the 3 intervention groups over 4 weeks for AUSCAN Pain (F(2,18)=5.892, p=0.011), AUSCAN Stiffness (F(2,18)=22.629, p