N/A
N=23
Taping to Control Edema in Patients With Forearm Plaster for Wrist Fracture.
Edema Arm · Fracture; Wrist
Bottom Line
View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04683887 ↗Enrolled (actual)
23
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Aug 2025
Primary outcome: Primary: Thumb Circumference — -0.2; 0 cm
Study Design & Population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- N/A
- Interventions
- Tape application (Device)
- Age
- Adult, Older Adult · 18+ yrs
- Sex
- All
- Sponsor
- Azienda Unita Sanitaria Locale di Piacenza
- Primary completion
- Mar 2023
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Thumb Circumference |
-0.2; 0 | — |
| PRIMARY Circumference of the Other 4 Fingers All Together |
-0.5; 0.5 | — |
| SECONDARY Pain Degree by Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) |
2.5; 3 | — |
| SECONDARY Number of Participants Taking Painkillers |
1; 0 | — |
| SECONDARY Number of Participants With OED Entry |
0; 0 | — |
Summary
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.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Patients with growth plates closed on radiographic examination
- Unilateral distal radius fracture associated or not with ulnar styloid fracture
- Wrist fracture requiring bloodless reduction and immobilization with a forearm cast
Exclusion Criteria
- Patients with multiple fractures
- Polytrauma patients
- Patients with previous plegia / paralysis of the fractured limb
- Patients with previous lymphedema of the fractured limb
- Patients with access to the OED during the night when the organization does not guarantee the presence of 2 nurses
- Wounds or abrasions in the area of application of the tape
- Acute thrombosis (upper limb veins)
- Scars not perfectly healed in the area of application of the tape
- Dermatitis, psoriatic manifestations or erythema in the area of application of the tape
- Known allergy to acrylic (patch glue)
- Solid neoplasms
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04683887). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.