gms | German Medical Science

Objective: Evaluate how the use of a mobile application will affect exercise adherence, range of motion and self-efficacy when compared to standard rehabilitation after flexor tendon repair.

Materials and Methods: Multicenter randomized controlled trial. Patients with flexor tendon repair in zone I or II were included and rehabilitated with early active motion and followed 12 weeks post-surgery. Randomization was performed by a computer-generated concealed block to control (n=60) or intervention group (n=60). Both groups received standard rehabilitation according to early active motion. Intervention group also received a smart phone application including; exercise videos, push-notifications for exercise, exercise diary, written information on the surgery, rehabilitation, questions and answers. Evaluation was made at baseline, 2, 6- and 12-weeks after surgery. Primary outcome was physiotherapist rated adherence on the Sport Injury Adherence Scale (SIRAS). Secondary outcome was self-reported adherence, perceived self-efficacy, total range of motion in the PIP and DIP joint (TAM) and perceived satisfaction with rehabilitation and information.

Results: So far 83 participants are included in the study which will be completed early 2019. Preliminary results show no significant difference in SIRAS or any secondary outcome measure between the groups. There was a trend that patients with low scores on SIRAS at two weeks had lower TAM at 12 weeks. (SIRAS < 4 - mean TAM 115o, SIRAS >4 - mean 78o).

Conclusions: Further inclusion is needed to draw final conclusions if low adherence at 2 weeks predict poor TAM at 12 weeks. Further inclusion is also needed to draw conclusion about the intervention.