Article

Reconstructive arm/hand surgery for tetraplegia is performed to improve arm/hand
function and therefore personal well-being for individuals who accept such
elective surgeries. However, changes at an impairment level do not always
translate into functional or quality of life changes. Therefore, multiple outcome
tools should be used that incorporate sufficient responsiveness to detect changes
in arm/hand function, activity and participation, and quality of life of the
individuals involved. This narrative review aims to assist clinicians to choose
the most appropriate tools to assess the need for reconstructive surgery and to
evaluate its outcomes. Our specific objectives are (1) to describe aspects to
consider when choosing a measure and (2) to describe the measures advised by an
international therapist consensus group established in 2007. All advised measures
are appraised in terms of the underlying construct, administration, and clinical
relevance to arm/hand reconstructions. Essentially there are currently no
criterion standard measures to evaluate the consequences of reconstructive
arm/hand surgery. However, with judicious use of available measures it is
possible to ensure the questions asked or tasks completed are relevant to the
surgical reconstruction(s) undertaken. Further work in this field is required.
This would be best met by immediate collaboration between 2 outcome's tool
developers and by analysis of pre- and postoperative data already held in various
international sites, which would allow further evaluation of the measures already
in use, or components thereof.
CI - Copyright (c) 2016 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS