gms | German Medical Science

Objective: Cold hypersensitivity is a common condition in patients with severe hand injuries living in northern countries and may severely affect activity and participation. The aims of the study were to examine long term use of strategies recommended by hand therapists to limit cold-related symptoms and the use of internet to seek information.

Materials and Methods: 100 adult patients operated for severe hand injuries who defined themselves as cold hypersensitive at one-year follow-up, received postal questionnaires 7 years after injury. Questions included cold hypersensitivity severity (5-graded scale), use of various aids to limit cold related symptoms (yes, no), effects of physical activity (4-graded scale), other strategies (free-text), and internet search to find information about strategies (yes, no).

Results: 73 patients returned questionnaires; 65 defined themselves as mild (n=22), moderate (n=28) or severe (n=15) cold hypersensitive (none extreme). Of the cold hypersensitive respondents, 16 (25%) used electrically heated gloves and 28 (43%) additional/other heating aids, such as disposable (n=24), reactivated (n=7), USB-charged (n=3), fuel (n=1), charcoal (n=1) and rice (n=1) hand warmers. 15 respondents (23%) used wrist bands and 28 (43 %) felt that physical activity helped 'a little' or 'a lot'. The most common free-text responses addressed hand-wear (n=21), such as use of woolen and felted mittens, mittens instead of gloves, several layers of gloves/mittens, gloves adapted for amputated fingers and fingerless gloves. Other strategies were to massage fingers, shake hand to increase blood-flow and warm the fingers on different body parts or in lukewarm water. 15 respondents had sought information on the internet.

Conclusions: Extensive use of heat remedies and special mittens 7 years after hand injuries supports clinicians in recommending such strategies.