Use of a Compression Device for Ring Removal: A Prospective Trial

The usual treatment for stuck rings includes a variety of techniques including use of ice to reduce swelling, use of lubricants, and sometimes the use of string or ring cutters. The success rate of these techniques is variable and cutting the ring is usually reserved as a last resort. Sometimes removal of a ring can take time, and can cause some small injury to the patient. Because of this, it is important to consider other methods for ring removal.

This study is looking at using a device that uses compression to reduce swelling of the finger causing the ring to be stuck. This device has been approved for use in Canada. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how effective a compression device is at removing stuck rings.

The study question is: how effective is a compression device at removing stuck rings?

A Compression Device (CD) is a device that uses circumferential compression to reduce swelling around a stuck ring. The device is used by placing it near, but not over-top, the offending ring, and then is inflated compressing the finger. The device is applied, and the hand elevated, for approximately five minutes. The device is then removed, and with a small amount of lubricant, the ring is removed.

All patients requiring ring removal at the QEII emergency department, if a compression device can be used safely, will be asked if they would like to be included in the study and have their ring removal attempted by a compression device.

Following removal attempt, the clinician will document information about the ring removal. This will include some questions regarding the patient's experience with the removal. No identifying information or personal health information will be recorded.

The investigators plan to collect information about use of the compression device for a period of one year. Following this time, the data will be analyzed to determine how effective the compression device is at removing rings including statements regarding patient experience. This information will be documented in a manuscript intended for publication and may be presented at academic conferences or other continuing education events.

The investigators will be measuring the success rate of ring removal with the compression device.

In addition, the investigators will record information on any side effects of use of the compression device, as well as patient experience including pain and satisfaction.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Wounds and Injuries; Hand Injuries; Device Malfunction
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Compression device.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 50
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Nova Scotia
    • Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
      • Dalhousie University
      • Contact: Louis J Staple, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals presenting to the QEII emergency department with a chief complaint of a stuck ring on a finger, or with heath conditions that necessitate removal of a ring that cannot be removed without clinician assistance.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Contraindications to compression device use including certain bone, nerve or blood vessel conditions.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Participants; Individuals requiring ring removal.

Device: Compression device.; A compression device is a device that uses circumferential compression to reduce swelling around a stuck ring. The device is used by placing it near, but not overtop, the offending ring, and then is inflated compressing the finger. The device is applied, and the hand elevated, for approximately five minutes. The device is then removed, and with a small amount of lubricant, the ring is removed.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of patients with successful ring removal using a compression device	Successful ring removal with compression device	1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Nova Scotia Health Authority

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 26, 2021
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 14, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 24, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): January 28, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 5, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 3, 2024
• Last Verified: January 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Hand Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: 1025977

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No