title: Effects of serial casting in the treatment of flexion contractures of proximal interphalangeal joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis: A retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the effects of serial casting (SC) in the treatment of proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint flexion contractures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case-series.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data of 18 patients treated with SC were obtained from their patient records. The angular changes in the finger joints were analyzed and compared statistically using t-tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 49 fingers were serially casted with plaster of Paris over a 14-year period. The SC resulted in significant (26.8°; p < 0.001) reduction in the PIP joint extension loss. Small, but statistically significant, losses in flexion were associated with these gains. (p < 0.001). Angular changes were also observed in the other finger joints. The magnitude of the initial extension loss was the only factor to explain the amount of motion gained (p < 0.001; R2 = 0.38).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SC is an effective method to correct flexion contractures in PIP joints in selected patients with arthritis. The gain is partially related to the magnitude of initial extension loss.
authors: Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bezmialem Vakif University, Adnan Menderes Bulvarı Fatih 34093, İstanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: umit.ugurlu@yahoo.com.
authors: Ümit
authors: Ü
authors: Uğurlu
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, İstanbul University, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors: Huri
authors: H
authors: Özdoğan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D003286:Contracture / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Arthritis; Flexion contracture; Plaster of Paris; Proximal interphalangeal joint; Serial casting