03133nas a2200397   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653003100055653001000086653002000096653001000116653001100126653003100137653001800168653001100186653001900197653001200216653000900228653002100237653003200258653002300290653003100313653002500344653001200369653002000381100001100401700001400412700002000426700001200446700001300458245012800471300002100599490000700620520209400627022001402721       2009                            d  c2009 Mar10aActivities of Daily Living10aAdult10aCasts, Surgical10aEdema10aFemale10aHand Deformities, Acquired10aHand Strength10aHumans10aImmobilization10aleprosy10aMale10aPain Measurement10aPhysical Therapy Modalities10aPostoperative Care10aRange of Motion, Articular10aRecovery of Function10aSplints10aTendon Transfer1 aRath S1 aSelles RW1 aSchreuders TA R1 aStam HJ1 aHovius S00aA randomized clinical trial comparing immediate active motion with immobilization after tendon transfer for claw deformity.  a488-94, 494.e1-50 v343 a<p><b>PURPOSE: </b>Immobilization after tendon transfers has been the conventional postoperative management. A recent study indicated beneficial effects of an immediate active motion protocol (IAMP) after tendon transfer for claw deformity correction compared with effects in a historical cohort. In this study, we further tested this hypothesis in a randomized clinical trial comparing the effectiveness of the IAMP with that of conventional immobilization.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>Fifty supple claw hand deformities were randomized postoperatively into 2 equal groups for IAMP and immobilization. Therapy began on the second postoperative day for the IAMP group and on the twenty-second postoperative day for the immobilization group. The primary outcome measures were deformity correction, active range of motion of digits, tendon transfer insertion pullout, and time until discharge from rehabilitation. Secondary outcome measures were swelling, pain, hand strength, and dexterity. Both groups were compared at discharge from rehabilitation and at the last clinical follow-up (at least 1 year postoperatively).</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>Assessments were available for all 50 patients at discharge and for 23 patients in each group at follow-up. The average follow-up was 18 months for the IAMP group and 17 months for the immobilization group. Deformity correction, range of motion, swelling, dexterity, and hand strength were similar for both groups at discharge and a follow-up. There was no evidence of tendon insertion pullout in any patient of either group. Relief of pain was achieved significantly earlier with IAMP. Morbidity was reduced by, on average, 22 days with IAMP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS: </b>We found that the immediate active motion protocol is safe and has similar outcomes compared with those of immobilization, with the added advantage of earlier pain relief and quicker restoration of hand function. Immediate motion after tendon transfer can significantly reduce morbidity and speed up the rehabilitation of paralytic limbs, and it may save expense for the patients.</p>  a1531-6564