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Article
Do Impairments Predict Hand Dexterity After Distal Radius Fractures? A 6-Month Prospective Cohort Study
Hand
  • Pavlos Bobos, Hand and Upper Limb Centre
  • Emily A. Lalone, Hand and Upper Limb Centre
  • Ruby Grewal, Hand and Upper Limb Centre
  • Joy C. MacDermid, Hand and Upper Limb Centre
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-2018
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1177/1558944717701242
Abstract

© 2017, The Author(s) 2017. Background: The relationship of routinely measured grip and motion measures may be related to hand dexterity. This has not yet been thoroughly examined following a distal radius fracture (DRF). The purpose of this study was to investigate if impairments in range of motion (ROM) and grip strength predict hand dexterity 6 months following a DRF. Methods: Patients with DRFs were recruited from a specialized hand clinic. Hand grip was assessed with a J-Tech dynamometer; ROM was measured using standard landmarks and a manual goniometer. Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify whether potential predictors (grip, ROM, age, hand dominance, and sex) were associated with 3-month or 6-month outcomes in large- and small-object subtests of the NK dexterity test in the affected hand. Results: Age, sex, and arc motion for radial-ulnar deviation were significant predictors of large-object hand dexterity explaining the 23% of the variation. For small-object hand dexterity, age and flexion-extension arc motion were significant predictors explaining 11% of the variation at 3 month after the fracture (n = 391). At 6 months post injury (n = 319), grip strength, arc motion for flexion-extension, and age were found to be significant predictors of large-object dexterity explaining 34% of the variance. For the small objects, age, grip strength, sex, and arc motion of radial-ulnar deviation explained 25% of the variation. Conclusions: Although this confirms that the impairments in ROM and grip that occur after a DRF can explain almost one-third of the variation in hand dexterity, it also suggests the need for dexterity testing to provide more accurate assessment.

Citation Information
Pavlos Bobos, Emily A. Lalone, Ruby Grewal and Joy C. MacDermid. "Do Impairments Predict Hand Dexterity After Distal Radius Fractures? A 6-Month Prospective Cohort Study" Hand Vol. 13 Iss. 4 (2018) p. 441 - 447
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/joy-macdermid/77/