Prediction of hand strength by hand injury severity scoring system in hand injured patients

Abstract

Purpose: Hand strength is a key component in human hand function, especially to those with strength-required jobs. To evaluate post-injury hand strength, this study was conducted to assess the predictability of hand injury severity scoring (HISS) system to hand strength after a period of recovery. Methods: In this retrospective study, 80 traumatic hand-injured subjects were recruited. Hand strength tests measured by dynamometers were performed by subjects in ways of palmar pinch, lateral pinch and cylindrical grip. The logistic regression models were used to evaluate the risk of poor hand strength among the severities represented by HISS scores. Results: A positive correlation exists between the differences of the strength of two hands, and the severity shown by HISS system in the poorer half of subjects. The risk to be in poorer half of palmar pinch subtest is significant in moderate subgroup of HISS severity. The risk to be in poorer half of cylindrical grip subtest is significant in major subgroup of HISS severity. The risk to be in poorer half of palmar pinch and cylindrical grip subtests is significant in skeletal component of HISS system. Conclusions: HISS is a descriptive severity scoring system to hand injury and also a useful instrument to predict functional outcome. This study revealed the HISS system may predict post-injury hand strength after recovery.

Implications for Rehabilitation: Hand injury

• Traumatic hand injury results in considerable loss of personal productivity and increased social burden. Hand injury severity scoring (HISS) system could be an adequate predictor to post-injury hand strength.

• Early rehabilitation intervention is mandatory to those with anticipatory poor hand strength to improve outcomes.

• Full motor recovery of hand injury may take years to complete. Further training is warranted to those with severe hand injury.

Keywords::

• hand function
• hand injury
• hand strength
• HISS

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Bureau of Labor Insurance of Taiwan who made this study possible.

Declaration of interest: This research was funded by The Bureau of Labor Insurance of Taiwan (grant #097-0-P1-000048 and #098-0-P1-000027). The authors report no conflicts of interest.