Effect of the beginning of a special interdisciplinary rehabilitation program with injuries of the hand
Description
The objective of this study was the evaluation of the outcome of a special interdisciplinary therapy program depending on the beginning of the rehabilitation. The outcome of a specialized hand rehabilitation immediately after as well as short-term follow-up of 76 patients with injuries of the hand respectively wrist and CRPS was analysed with the use of self-assessed parameters and objective functional scores. The patients were divided into a group with an early (< 120 days after trauma) or late beginning of the rehabilitation. Better results for the early beginners were shown with statistical significance for the DASH–Score as well as ROM at follow-up. Especially patients with CRPS and finger injuries had a benefit. The study shows the importance of an early beginning especially with respect to function. There are differences in between different injuries or diseases with respect to these effects, especially patients with CRPS seem to profit.