RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Does occupational therapy delay or reduce the proportion of patients that receives thumb carpometacarpal joint surgery? A multicentre randomised controlled trial JF RMD Open JO RMD Open FD EULAR SP e001046 DO 10.1136/rmdopen-2019-001046 VO 5 IS 2 A1 Gravås, Else Marit Holen A1 Østerås, Nina A1 Nossum, Randi A1 Eide, Ruth Else Mehl A1 Klokkeide, Åse A1 Matre, Karin Hoegh A1 Olsen, Monika A1 Andreassen, Oyvor A1 Haugen, Ida K A1 Tveter, Anne Therese A1 Kjeken, Ingvild YR 2019 UL http://rmdopen.bmj.com/content/5/2/e001046.abstract AB Objectives To evaluate whether occupational therapy, provided in the period between referral and surgical consultation, might delay or reduce the need of surgery in thumb carpometacarpal joint (CMCJ) osteoarthritis and to explore predictors for CMCJ surgery.Methods This multicentre randomised controlled trial included patients referred for surgical consultation due to CMCJ osteoarthritis. An occupational therapy group received hand osteoarthritis education, assistive devices, CMCJ orthoses and exercises. A control group received only hand osteoarthritis information. Primary outcome was the proportion of patients that had received CMCJ surgery after 2 years. We examined the primary outcome and predictors for surgery with regression models, and time to surgery with the log-rank test and cox regression analyses.Results Of 221 patients screened for eligibility, 180 were randomised. Information on the primary outcome was collected from medical records for all included patients. Surgery was performed on 22 patients (24%) that had received occupational therapy and 29 (32%) control patients (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.26 to 1.21; p=0.14). Median time to surgery was 350 days (IQR 210–540) in the occupational therapy group and 296 days (IQR 188–428) in the control group (p=0.13). Previous non-pharmacological treatment (OR 2.72, 95% CI 1.14 to 6.50) and higher motivation for surgery (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.43) were significant predictors for CMCJ surgery.Conclusions Occupational therapy showed a small non-significant tendency to delay and reduce the need for surgery in CMCJ osteoarthritis. Previous non-pharmacological treatment and higher motivation for surgery were significant predictors for surgery.