Are functional assessment questionnaires related with hand function tests in patients with nerve injury at the level of wrist and in patients with tendon injury/fracture at the level of fingers?

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to research the relationship between functional assessment questionnaires answered by patients and hand function tests in patients with injury on level of wrists or fingers. Materials and Methods: Demographic characteristics of 43 patients with nerve injury at the level of wrists (median/ulnar) (LW group) and patients with fracture or tendon injury at the level of fingers (LF group) were recorded. Functional level detected by examination was evaluated according to the Seddon classification in LW group, and according to Buck-Gramco scores in LF group. The Sollerman Hand Function Test (SHFT) was administered to all patients, and the Quick-DASH (Q-DASH) and Duruöz Hand Index (DHI) were completed by all patients. Hand grip strength was expressed as a percentage of that of the uninjured hand. Results: There was no difference in mean age and distribution of gender between the groups (p=0.429, p=0.229). Three (14.3%) patients had excellent, 10 (47.6%) good, 6 (28.6%) moderate, and 2 (9.5%) patients had poor results according to the Seddon classification in LW group. 1 (4.5%) patient had excellent, 9 (40.9%) good, 4 (18.2%) poor, and 8 (36.4%) patients had bad results according to the Buck-Gramko scores in LF group. In LW and LF groups, SHFT sores were 72.3±16.8, 76.1±5.6, Q-DASH 27.9±19.4, 19.6±15.2, DHI 19.3±21.2, 11.3±10.6, respectively and the injured hand grip strength was 65.4±29.9, 72.5±25.8. The SHFT significantly correlated with the Q-DASH and DHI in both LW and LF groups (p<0.05). The SHFT significantly correlated with the Seddon classification (r=0.449) and grip strength (r=0.585) in LW group. While there was no significant correlation between SHFT and Buck-Gramco, there was a significant correlation between SHFT and grip strength (r=0.463) in LF-group. Conclusion: It was observed that hand function tests had correlations with the functional-questionnaires answered by patients both in patients with nerve injury at the level of wrist and in patients with fracture/ tendon injury at the level of finger. © Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Published by Galenos Publishing.