Self Digital Photography for Assessing Elbow Range of Motion

Mayo Clinic

Status: Completed

Conditions: Contracture of Elbow Joint

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02985788

13-003378

Details and patient eligibility

About

Loss of elbow range of motion can significantly affect activities of daily living. Measuring elbow range of motion is critical for tracking post surgical outcomes. This study seeks to validate the ability to validate self photography as a means of followup through long distance correspondence.

Full description

Loss of elbow range of motion is common after trauma and can significantly affect activities of daily living. Patients across the country travel to tertiary referral centers to have this problem addressed. Followup is critical and can often be difficult given distances between patients home and their healthcare provider. Measuring postoperative outcomes requires accurate and reliable documentation of range of motion. Previously, the investigators have validated digital photography as a means of accurately measuring elbow range of motion. In that study, photographs were taken by a non-professional photographer. With the advance in personal technology, patients now have the ability to take photos themselves. This study seeks to validate self photography, which will ultimately improve patient follow up and improve clinical monitoring

Enrollment: 50 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Elbow contracture in the sagittal place

Exclusion criteria

• Unable to read English
• Unable to forward flex shoulder to 90 degrees or hold their shoulder at 90 degrees for the duration of the examination
• Unable to tolerate the exercise due to pain

Trial design

50 participants in 2 patient groups

Video Instructions

Description:

Instructions on how to take a flexion/extension picture will be delivered in video format. These instructions will be followed by written instruction on how to take pictures examining pronation/supination.

Written instructions

Description:

Instructions on how to take a flexion/extension picture will be delivered in a written, on paper format. These instructions will be followed by written instruction on how to take pictures examining pronation/supination.