Table 1. Study characteristics.
| Author | Year | Journal | Setting | Population | Type of study | Intervention | Comparator | Primary
outcome |
Outcomes | Time
points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crowley et al. 13 | 2013 | Techniques in
Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery |
Hospital
plastic surgery department |
Acute complete UCL
ruptures repaired with Mitek anchors |
Randomised
controlled trial |
Early active
mobilisation |
Plaster
immobilisation |
None
specified |
Range of motion,
return to work, normal hand function, complications |
1 month,
3 months, 6 months |
| Katolik et al. 16 | 2008 | Plastic and
Reconstructive Surgery |
Hand
Surgery Unit |
Acute complete UCL
ruptures treated with surgery |
Retrospective
comparative case series |
Bone anchor
repair |
Pull out suture
repair |
None
specified |
Range of motion,
Pinch strength, patient satisfaction, complication |
Final follow
up |
| Lane 17 | 1991 | American Journal
of Sports Medicine |
Orthopaedic
Surgery Department |
Acute complete UCL
ruptures treated with surgery |
Retrospective
comparative case series |
Suture
repair (’new method’) |
Pull out suture
and K wire stabilisation of MCPJ |
None
specified |
Range of motion,
strength (full vs partial), overall outcome (excellent vs good), complications |
Final follow
up |
| Rocchi et al. 14 | 2014 | European Journal
of Physical and Rehabiliation Medicine |
Orthopaedic
Hand Surgery Department |
Acute complete UCL
ruptures treated with surgery |
Randomised
Controlled Trial |
New spica | Standard
spica |
None
specified |
Range of motion,
Dreiser index, VAS, Tip pinch strength, Complications |
1 month,
2 months, 6 months, 12 months |
| Saetta et al. 18 | 1992 | Journal of Hand
Surgery – British volume |
Accident
and Emergency Department |
Acute complete UCL
ruptures treated with surgery |
Retrospective
comparative case series |
Suture repair | Steel wire
repair |
None
specified |
Key strength, Pinch
strength, Grasp strength, Functional result (excellent vs not) |
Final follow
up |
| Sollerman et al. 15 | 1991 | Acta Orthopaedica
Scandinavica |
Hand
Surgery Department |
Acute UCL ruptures
treated surgically/ non surgically |
Randomised
Controlled Trial |
Functional
splint |
Plaster cast | None
specified |
Range of motion,
Pinch grip strength, Sick leave |
Final follow
up |
UCL, ulnar collateral ligament; MCPJ, metacarpophalangeal joint.