Table 2 Details of included studies
Author + year | Study design | No. of centres | Country | Sample size (no. of patients) | Medical condition | Type of orthosis | Instructions for daily use | Method of instruction | Duration of immobilisation | Adherence measure(s) used | Risk of bias in assessment of adherence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cuff 2012 [9] | Prospective cohort | Unclear | USA | 92 | Post-op rotator cuff repair | Shoulder immobiliser | Removal only for exercise, bathing, dressing | Verbal | 6 weeks | Single-item questionnaire + recorded therapy attendance | Low (objective assessment) |
Groth 1994 [10] | Retrospective cohort | Multi-centre | USA | 44 | Acute mallet finger injury | Finger splint | Removal only for finger hygiene | Verbal | Between 6 and 8 weeks | Multi-item questionnaire + therapist observation + recorded therapy attendance | Indeterminate (insufficient information) |
Guillodo 2011 [23] | Prospective cohort | Multi-centre | France | 111 | Sprained ankle | Aircast semi-rigid ankle brace | Not reported | Not reported | Between 5 and 6 weeks | Multi-item questionnaire | Low (independent assessor) |
Itoi 2013 [19] | Randomised controlled trial | Multi-centre | Japan | 109 | Traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation | Shoulder immobiliser | Removal only for bathing | Verbal | 3 weeks | Unclear | Indeterminate (insufficient information) |
Liavaag 2011 [20] | Randomised controlled trial | Multi-centre | Norway | 188 | Traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation | Shoulder immobiliser | Removal only for sleeping, bathing, dressing | Verbal + written | 3 weeks | Home diary | Low (independent patient report) |
McGrath 2008 [24] | Prospective cohort | Unclear | USA | 47 | Wrist stiffness post-trauma/surgery | Adjustable wrist brace | Worn intermittently dependent on progress | Verbal | Dependent on progress (mean 10 weeks) | Discussion with patient | Indeterminate (insufficient information) |
Midgley 2011 [25] | Prospective cohort | Single-centre | UK | 50 | Metacarpal fracture | Hand splint | Not reported | Written | 4 weeks | Multi-item questionnaire | Low (independent assessor) |
O’Brien 2011 [11] | Randomised controlled trial | Multi-centre | Australia | 64 | Acute mallet finger injury | Finger splint | Removal only for finger hygiene | Written | 8 weeks | Home diary + therapist observation + recorded therapy attendance | Low (independent patient report) |
Rives 1992 [13] | Prospective cohort | Unclear | USA | 23 | Surgically managed proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) contraction | Finger splint | Worn continuously | Verbal | 6 months | Discussion with patient | High (patient + clinician discussion) |
Rankin 2000 [26] | Prospective cohort | Unclear | Canada | 77 | Post-op anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction | Knee brace | Worn during high-risk sports | Not reported | 6–18 months | Multi-item questionnaire | Low (postal questionnaire) |
Roh 2016 [12] | Prospective cohort | Single-centre | South Korea | 72 | Acute mallet finger injury | Finger splint | Removal only for finger hygiene | Written | 7 weeks | Single-item questionnaire | Low (independent assessor) |
Sandford 2008 [28] | Retrospective cohort | Single-centre | UK | 80 | Post-op flexor/extensor tendon repair | Long forearm splint | Worn continuously | Not reported | 4 weeks | Multi-item questionnaire | Low (independent patient report) |
Silverio 2014 [27] | Prospective cohort | Single-centre | USA | 50 | Post-op rotator cuff repair | Shoulder immobiliser | Removal only for exercise, bathing, dressing | Verbal | 6 weeks | Multi-item questionnaire | Medium (questionnaire given by clinician at follow-up) |
Swirtun 2005 [21] | Randomised controlled trial | Single-centre | Sweden | 95 | ACL rupture (conservative management) | Knee brace | Worn during all daytime activities | Verbal | 12 weeks | Single-item questionnaire | Indeterminate (insufficient information) |
Whelan 2014 [22] | Randomised controlled trial | Multi-centre | Canada | 60 | Traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation | Shoulder immobiliser | Removal only for exercise, bathing, dressing | Written | 4 weeks | Home diary + multi-item questionnaire | Low (independent patient report) |
Wollstein 2012 [29] | Case report | Single-centre | USA | 1 | PIPJ contracture | Finger splint | Not reported | Not reported | 12 weeks | Home diary | Indeterminate (insufficient information) |
Yang 2011 [30] | Case report | Single-centre | Taiwan | 1 | Lisfranc injury | Foot brace | Not reported | Not reported | Unclear | Discussion with patient | High (patient + clinician discussion) |