This article collection welcomes research on the epidemiology and rehabilitation of osteoarthritis (OA) of the hand.
OA affecting the joints of the hand is common and is a significant cause of pain, loss of function, and reduced quality of life, yet it is relatively under-researched compared to OA in the larger joints sites such the knee and hip. The impact is often less visible, diagnosis and classification less well-defined especially for phenotypes such as thumb carpometacarpal OA, interphalangeal joint OA and erosive OA, and joint replacement less successful, making it harder for this condition to receive the attention it deserves. Over the last few years there have been some advances in our understanding of the burden and underlying disease mechanisms of hand OA, but there is much still to understand.
Interventions of orthotic prescription (splinting), assistive aid provision, exercise, and specific advice and education show some positive but also mixed outcomes. Poor intervention definition, limited understanding of who is more likely to respond to which intervention, and lack of consensus on optimal outcome measures add to challenges in drawing strong conclusions from research findings to date. As a result, there remains a high level of uncertainty around what is best practice for rehabilitation for people with hand OA.
We warmly invite submissions on all aspects of epidemiology and rehabilitation for hand OA, including but not limited to:
- Epidemiological research particularly those on prognosis and outcomes
- Community and public health approaches to addressing the burden of hand OA
- Interventions and management; pharmacological and non-pharmacological
- Post-operative care
- Pathways of care
- All methodological approaches: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods
Annals of Medicine accepts the following types of articles:
- Research Article (systematic/meta-analysis reviews and observational studies)
- Review Article
- Clinical Trials
- Protocols
- Case Series
- Commentary
Dr. Miranda Buhler is a clinician-researcher who works clinically as a Physiotherapist-Hand Therapist Expert Clinician at Dunedin Hospital, Te Whatu Ora Southern and as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Otago Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research. Her research interests are two-fold. Clinically, she has a focus on the impact of musculoskeletal conditions affecting the hand including osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tendon injuries, and the effectiveness of orthotic, exercise, and education interventions for these conditions. In the area of health services research, Dr Buhler uses qualitative, service audit, and geospatial methods to investigate allied health workforce distribution and understand gaps in access to care relative to health need.
https://www.otago.ac.nz/healthsciences/expertise/Profile/?id=3384
Dr. Michelle Marshall is a Senior Research Fellow in Clinical Epidemiology and Imaging at the School of Medicine, Keele University. Her expertise is in the epidemiology of osteoarthritis particularly at the joint site of the hand, foot and ankle. She has particular research interests in the presentation, causal mechanisms and disease course with the ultimate aim of improving care and outcomes for those affected with the disease.
https://www.keele.ac.uk/medicine/staff/michellemarshall/
Disclosure Statement: Dr. Buhler and Dr. Marshall have no conflicts of interest to declare.
The deadline for submitting manuscripts is February 23rd, 2024.
When submitting your article, please select the section, 'Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation', and the Special Issue, 'Hand osteoarthritis epidemiology and rehabilitation: Advances in disease understanding and clinical care' from the drop-down menu on the submission system.
Annals of Medicine is an online, open access, international journal publishing across all areas of medicine and is part of our Elevate Series. This means that you will receive a concierge-level publishing experience, including dedicated support from our expert in-house Editorial team, with guaranteed response times of within 48 hours, an initial decision on whether your article will be peer reviewed within 5 working days, and a first decision on your research within an average of 22 working days.
