| Author, Year, Followup,a Pain Duration, Study Quality | Intervention | Population | Function and Pain Outcomes | Other Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Brosseau, 2005165 4.5 months Duration of pain: NR Good | A. Low-level laser therapy (n=42): 3 J/cm2 applied for 1 second each to the skin overlying the radial, medial and ulnar nerves (total of 15 points irradiated); 3 sessions lasting 20 minutes per week for 6 weeks B. Sham low-level laser therapy (n=46): same procedure as the active treatment but a sham laser probe was used. | A vs. B Age: 64 vs. 65 years Female: 74% vs. 83% Medication use: 60% vs. 61% Diagnosis of OA: 7.5 vs. 8.5 years Baseline AUSCAN function (0-4)b: 2.2 vs. 2.1 Baseline AUSCAN pain (0-4)b: 2.4 vs. 2.1 Baseline pain intensity VAS (0-100): 56.9 vs. 49.4 | A vs. B 4.5 months AUSCAN function: 1.9 vs. 1.7, difference 0.2 (95% CI −0.2 to 0.6) AUSCAN pain: 1.9 vs. 1.8, difference 0.1 (95% CI −0.3 to 0.5) | A vs. B 4.5 months Patient global assessment: Fully improved: 0% vs. 3% Partially improved: 40% vs. 33.3% No improvement: 60% vs. 52% |
Dilek, 2013166 2.25 months Duration of pain: Mean 5.5 years Fair | A. Dip-wrap paraffin bath therapy (n=24): patients dip both hands into 50°C paraffin bath 10 times, paraffin left on for 15 minutes, treatment administered 5 days per week for 3 weeks B. Control group (n=22): Details NR; assumed to be no treatment Only paracetamol intake was permitted during the study | A vs. B Age: 59 vs. 60 years Female: 83% vs. 91% Baseline AUSCAN function (0-36)c: 16.2 vs. 17.1 Baseline AUSCAN pain (0-20)c: 10.7 vs. 9.8 Baseline Pain at rest, median (VAS 0-10): 5.0 vs. 4.0 | A vs. B 2.25 months AUSCAN function: 13.8 vs. 17.8, difference −4.0 (95% CI −8.6 to 0.6) AUSCAN pain: 6.5 vs. 9.5, difference −3 (95% CI −5.5 to −0.5) Pain VAS at rest, median: 0.0 vs. 5.0, p<0.001 | NR |
Unless otherwise noted, followup time is calculated from the end of the treatment period
Data for the AUSCAN was presented as an average of all responses, on a 5-point Likert scale (0-4), for both the physical function (9 items) and pain (5 items) subscale
Data for the AUSCAN was presented as a sum of the values across all items within the physical function (9 items) and pain (5 items) subscales; a 5-point Likert scale (0-4) was used to rate each item resulting in score ranges of 0-36 and 0-20, respectively
From: Results
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