Mark Ross, Phillip Duke, Gregory Couzens, Susan Peters, Bhavana Jha, Wilma Walsh

Arthritis at the base of the thumb is common in ageing adults. It can result in pain and impact on function and quality of life. There are many treatments available to help relieve pain and improve hand function. Currently, it is common practice in Australia and overseas for health care providers (such as General Practitioners, Surgeons, Rheumatologists and Hand Therapists) to initially recommend non-surgical/conservative treatments for their patients. Treatments can include splinting the joint to relieve pain and enable hand function; injection of corticosteroid into the joint to reduce inflammation and provide pain relief; and hand therapy to provide exercises and patient education to inform on strategies for protecting the joints, managing pain and improving function. Preliminary research on these types of treatments has had mixed results, yet, health care professionals continue to offer these as treatments. This study will compare the effectiveness of the following non-surgical treatments: Push BraceTM splint; corticosteroid injection; and hand therapy treatment in relieving symptoms and improving function in adults with osteoarthritis at the base of the thumb.

This study commenced recruitment in September 2015. This study is supported by a research grant from the Queensland Hand Surgery Society.

If you have arthritis in your thumb and you want to participate in this trial, please contact the research institute.

The full protocol for this study has been published.