Comparison of short-stretch bandage and long-stretch bandage for post-traumatic hand edema

Sheila Santandrea; Mariagrazia Benassi; Roberto Tedeschi

doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2023.108854

Comparison of short-stretch bandage and long-stretch bandage for post-traumatic hand edema

Int J Surg Case Rep. 2023 Oct:111:108854. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2023.108854. Epub 2023 Sep 20.

Authors

Sheila Santandrea¹, Mariagrazia Benassi², Roberto Tedeschi³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
² Department of Psychology Renzo Canestrani, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat, 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
³ Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: roberto.tedeschi2@unibo.it.

Abstract

Introduction and importance: Hand edema is a common post-surgical or traumatic complication in orthopedic patients, necessitating effective treatment interventions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of two different types of bandages, along with finger flexion exercises, on managing hand edema.

Case presentation: Our orthopedic patients with post-surgical or traumatic hand edema and three non-edematous hands were enrolled in the study. A mixed model effect with fixed factors of time (pre-post) and bandage type (M, C, N), and random factors of hand, edema, fingers, and phalanges was applied. The bandage types were circular with short elastic bandage (M) and circular with elastic bandage (C). Finger flexion exercises involved alternating contractions of extrinsic and intrinsic flexors. Randomization ensured unbiased allocation to bandage types.

Clinical discussion: The M bandage demonstrated a significant reduction in hand edema by effectively moving free fluids, reinforcing tissue hydrostatic pressure, and facilitating venous and lymphatic flow. On the other hand, the C bandage did not produce significant pre-post differences in hand circumference.

Conclusions: The combination of a circular bandage with finger flexion exercises shows promise in reducing hand edema in orthopedic patients. Particularly, the stiff bandage M exhibited superior efficacy compared to the elastic one C in reducing hand circumference. These findings provide valuable insights for clinical practice, offering an effective strategy for managing hand edema and promoting better patient outcomes.

Keywords: Circular bandages; Finger flexion exercises; Hand edema; Orthopedic patients; Treatment effectiveness.