Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35187278›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of bioprinting2022

3D-Printed Hand Splints versus Thermoplastic Splints: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Feasibility Trial.

Leonie Waldburger, Romain Schaller, Christina Furthmüller, Lorena Schrepfer, Dirk J Schaefer, Alexandre Kaempfen

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of bioprinting, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
15citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.5field-weighted citation impact, top 10% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

15 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 23 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Leonie WaldburgerPlastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Romain SchallerPlastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Christina FurthmüllerDepartment of Hand Rehabilitation, Occupational Therapy, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Lorena SchrepferDepartment of Hand Rehabilitation, Occupational Therapy, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Dirk J SchaeferPlastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Alexandre KaempfenPlastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
University Hospital of Basel · CH

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

In this randomized controlled pilot trial, we compared three-dimensional (3D)-printed made-to-measure splints to conventional custom-made thermoplastic splints. In a clinical setting, we evaluated their general applicability and possible benefits for immobilization in hand surgical patients. We included 20 patients with an indication for immobilization of at least 4 weeks, regardless of the splint design. Patient comfort and satisfaction were assessed with questionnaires at splint fitting, as well as 2 and 4-6 weeks later. The 3D splints were designed and printed in-house with polylactic acid from a 3D surface scan. Our data suggest that 3D-printed splinting is feasible, and patient satisfaction ratings were similar for 3D-printed and thermoplastic splints. The 3D splint production process needs to be optimized and other materials need to be tested before routine implementation is possible or more patients can be enrolled in further studies. Validated quality assessment tools for current splinting are lacking, and further investigation is necessary.

Indexed as

3D printingAdditive manufacturingHand surgeryOccupational therapySplint quality

Identifiers

PMID35187278
PMCPMC8852196
OpenAlexW4212792675

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.