Pressure Therapy in the Treatment of Hand Injuries

Abstract

Since talking to other therapists there seems to be some debate about the effectiveness and use of custom-made pressure garments in the treatment of hand injury. Those of us who make our own in a matter of minutes with the patient sat in front of us, know that they can be a fast means of reducing oedema in the digits and the hand, and in the longer term use can flatten potentially hypertrophic scars that can cause contracture. Lycra pressure garments are safer to use with unreliable patients than coban bandage, because they are made to fit the patient. For anyone in doubt I offer the following case study for you to compare with Sonia Ranelli's patient in the Spring 1998 issue of the British Journal of Hand Therapy, who was unable to wear a pressure garment when she returned to work as a veterinary nurse.