Opsite Flexifix: An effective adjunct in the management of pain and hypersensitivity in the hand

✍ Scribed by Judith Boscheinen-Morrin; Jacki Shannon

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2001
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 224 KB
• Volume: 48
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0045-0766
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-1630.2001.00253.x

✦ Synopsis

Hand trauma commonly results in pain, swelling and stiffness. These sequelae of injury usually resolve uneventfully. In a small number of patients, however, pain will persist long after the initial trauma. Persisting pain has a significant impact on the patient’s ability to participate in the hand therapy programme; this, in turn, hinders restoration of hand function. Pain management strategies are numerous and draw from a wide variety of disciplines, including hand therapy (occupational therapy and physiotherapy), psychology, pharmacology and, occasionally, surgery. Opsite film has been used for a number of years in the management of pain associated with diabetic neuropathy. The types of symptoms experienced by patients with neuropathy are very similar to those described by some patients with hand injuries. For the past 12 months the authors have trialled Opsite Flexifix (Smith and Nephew) on 42 patients with varying diagnoses. Patient response to this pain‐relieving strategy has been very positive and the authors believe that inclusion of Opsite Flexifix in a pain management programme is indicated.