Study of Medical Ultrasound for Rhizarthrosis (SUR): study protocol for a randomized controlled single-center pilot-trial

This study is a single-center, randomized, controlled, parallel-group pilot trial. One hundred fifty patients with rhizarthrosis and current disease activity will be randomized to one of three conservative interventions over 6  months. Interventions are (1) multimodal hand therapy (2) therapeutic ultrasound, and (3) combination therapy with both hand therapy and ultrasound therapy. The primary outcome measure is the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire score after 6 months. Secondary endpoi nts are changes in pain, quality of life, disability progression, and changes of hand function. Safety will also be assessed.DiscussionClinical data suggest that multimodal hand therapy may improve functionality and reduce pain in rhizarthrosis. Clinical data regarding therapeutic ultrasound are not available. Clinical evidence is lacking. This study is the first clinical study investigating the effects of multimodal hand therapy in direct comparison to therapeutic ultrasound and to a combination therapy with both hand therapy and ultrasound therapy for rhizarthrosis.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov; NCT04115085; Registered on September 30, 2019.
Source: Trials - Category: Research Source Type: clinical trials