Burn JointsNCT07837687
Effect of Paraffin Wax on Joint Contractures
A study testing Paraffin wax and Mineral oil in people with Burn Joints and Joint Contractures, run by Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM).
Trial summary
Limited studies have objectively evaluated the benefit on skin pliability, and relieving itch and pain of paraffin wax, nor has paraffin wax treatment been compared to mineral oil, which is an ingredient in therapeutic paraffin wax. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 16 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Burn Joints, Joint Contractures
- What is being tested?
- Paraffin wax and Mineral oil
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 12 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Oct 2026to Oct 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 16 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adult burn survivors (16 years and older)
- Have joint contractures ≥15% normal PROM at two different joints directly related to their burn injury/scars
- Are proficient in English and/or French
- Provide informed consent
Who cannot join
- Patients who have a cognitive/psychiatric condition that could impair their understanding of the consent process or adherence to protocol procedures
- Patients with neurological impairments related to their burn injury, such as a drop foot or a drop wrist
- Patients with pre-burn joint pathology that limited their PROM
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Effects of Paraffin Wax Therapy on Passive Range of Motion Post-burn Injury: a Pilot Randomized Control Trial
Limited studies have objectively evaluated the benefit on skin pliability, and relieving itch and pain of paraffin wax, nor has paraffin wax treatment been compared to mineral oil, which is an ingredient in therapeutic paraffin wax. The objective of this study is to examine the immediate impact after paraffin treatment compared with mineral oil controls on joint passive range of motion.
Read the detailed description
The development of joint contractures after a burn injury represents one of the most important morbidities leading to reduced function and quality of life. Paraffin wax is commonly applied to contracted joints for its proposed benefits of increasing skin pliability, and/or relieving itch and pain. This pilot study will determine the feasibility of performing a fully powered study to objectively evaluate whether paraffin wax therapy significantly improves PROM in adult burn survivors with joint contractures of greater than 15% normal joint ROM (upper or lower extremity) compared to equivalent mineral oil treated joint contractures. This study will characterize the changes in PROM, AROM, itch, and pain in adult burn survivors immediately after the application of paraffin wax treatment relative to an intra-individual control scar treated with mineral oil. This will be a prospective, evaluator-blinded, intra-individual, randomized, controlled, pre-post pilot study.
- Conditions
- Burn Joints, Joint Contractures
- Being tested
- Paraffin wax, Mineral oil
- Keywords
- Burns, Burn rehabilitation, Joint contracture, Paraffin wax
- Medical subject headings
- Burns
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Paraffin waxOther
Application of Paraffin wax on joint contracture for 20 mins before removal
Mineral oilOther
Application of Mineral oil on joint contracture for 20 mins before removal
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Joint contractures 1 wax, 2 oil | Experimental | Two selectionned joint contractures on a single participant. Interventions : one joint with paraffin wax, second joint with mineral oil Receives: Other: Paraffin wax; Other: Mineral oil |
| Joint contractures 1 oil, 2 wax | Experimental | Two selectionned joint contractures on a single participant. Interventions : one joint with mineral oil, second joint with paraffin wax Receives: Other: Paraffin wax; Other: Mineral oil |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
PROM changes
Passive range of motion of joint contractures treated with Paraffin wax or Mineral oil, before and after treatment, following regular and revised scar goniometry in extension and flexion
Measured: 20 minutes (enrollment to end of visit)
Secondary outcomes (3)
AROM changes
active range of motion of joint contractures treated with paraffin wax or mineral oil, before and after treatment, following regular and revised scar goniometry in extension and flexion
Measured: 20 minutes (enrollment to end of visit)
Pain changes in joint contractures
Subjective pain of joint contractures treated with paraffin wax or mineral oil (before and after) with Visual analog thermometer
Measured: 20 minutes (enrollment to end of visit)
Itch changes in joint contractures
Subjective itch of joint contractures treated with paraffin wax or mineral oil (before and after) with Visual analog thermometer
Measured: 20 minutes (enrollment to end of visit)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Sep 2026
- Study startOct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionOct 2028 (estimated)
- Study completionOct 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Burn JointsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 12 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Bernadette Nedelec, PhD, OT(c), Principal investigator, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07837687
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2027-13919
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 18 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 28 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No