Three-dimensional printed customized versus conventional plaster brace for trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled crossover trial

Abstract

We investigated the non-operative management of trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis with a three-dimensional (3-D) printed patient-customized brace compared with a conventional plaster brace. Fifty-two patients with symptomatic trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis were enrolled in a 9-week crossover study, which was designed as a randomized controlled trial of two periods of 4-week brace therapies. The primary outcome was patient satisfaction measured with the Dutch version of the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology questionnaire survey. Secondary outcomes included pain, patient-reported function, functional hand strength measured by pinch and grip strength, and compliance assessed through a daily log of self-reported brace usage. The 3-D printed patient-customized brace had higher patient satisfaction and compliance than the conventional plaster brace. Patients preferred the 3-D printed customized brace (93%) rather than the conventional plaster brace (7%). This suggests that the 3-D printed patient-customized brace is effective in the non-operative management of trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis.Level of evidence: I.

Keywords: 3-D scanning and printing technology; Trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis; brace; non-operative management; thumb base.