Susann Drerup

Age- and Gender-Specific Normative Data of Grip and Pinch Strength in a Healthy Adult Swiss Population:

Assessment of hand strength is used in a wide range of clinical settings especially during treatment of diseases affecting the function of the hand. This investigation aimed to determine age- and gender-specific reference values for grip and pinch strength in a normal Swiss population with special regard to old and very old subjects as well as to different levels of occupational demand. Hand strength data were collected using a Jamar dynamometer and a pinch gauge with standard testing position, protocol and instructions. Analysis of the data from 1023 tested subjects between 18 and 96 years revealed a curvilinear relationship of grip and pinch strength to age, a correlation to height, weight and significant differences between occupational groups. Hand strength values differed significantly from those of other populations, confirming the thesis that applying normative data internationally is questionable. Age- and gender-specific reference values for grip and pinch strength are presented.

Prediction of grip and key pinch strength in 978 healthy subjects.

BackgroundHand strength is an important independent surrogate parameter to assess outcome and risk of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the predictive power of cofactors and to predict population-based normative grip and pinch strength.MethodsA representative population survey was used as the basis for prediction analyses (n = 978). Bivariate relationships between grip/pinch strengths of the dominate hand were explored by means of all relevant mathematical functions to maximize prediction. The resulting best functions were combined into a multivariate regression.ResultsPolynoms (up to the third degree) were the best predictive functions. On the bivariate level, height was best correlated to grip (46.2% explained variance) and pinch strength (37.7% explained variance) in a linear relationship, followed by sex, age, weight, and occupational demand on the hand. Multivariate regression provided predicted values close to the empirical ones explaining 76.6% of the variance for grip strength and 67.7% for pinch strength.ConclusionThe five easy-to-measure cofactors sex, age, body height, categorized occupational demand on the hand, and body weight provide a highly accurate prediction of normative grip and pinch strength.

Sports Activity After Anatomical Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Background Implant functionality has clearly increased over the past decades because of improvements in total shoulder arthroplasty systems. This means that prostheses are now being implanted in younger patients with high sports activity. Hypothesis The implantation of the total shoulder arthroplasty does not mainly influence the sports activity. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods One hundred consecutive patients with unilateral total shoulder arthroplasty, followed for at least 1 year, were included in the study. Assessment preoperatively and 1 year and 2 years after operation included clinical examination and a validated questionnaire (Constant, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index [SPADI], and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand [DASH] scores, and the Short Form 36 [SF-36]). In addition, all patients received a sports questionnaire developed in house. Results Of the 55 patients who took part in sports before having shoulder disease, 49 (89%) were still able to participate after a mean follow-up of 2.8 years (range, 1.3-4.6 years). Seventeen patients had given up sports before total shoulder arthroplasty; 11 of them resumed activities after joint replacement but 6 did not start again. No patient had to stop sports because of the total shoulder arthroplasty. The sports most commonly mentioned were swimming (10 patients [20.4%]), golf (8 patients [16.3%]), cycling (8 patients [16.3%]), and fitness training (8 patients [16.3%]). Strength and range of motion, as well as the physical component summary (PCS) of the SF-36 and the Constant score (CS) after total shoulder arthroplasty, were significantly better in the sports group (49 of 100; PCS = 46, CS = 77) than in the nonsports group (45 of 100; PCS = 41,CS = 71). Eighteen patients (36.7%) stated that even after joint replacement, they still suffered restrictions on their sports activities because of shoulder problems. Whereas the overall mean age at follow-up was 68.9 years (range, 26-92 years), the mean age of patients participating in sports was significantly lower than in the nonsports group (63 vs 70 years; P = .002). Conclusion Total shoulder arthroplasty allows patients to participate in sports without significant restriction of their level of activity. The probability of being able to do sports postoperatively—if done preoperatively—is high. Long-term studies are needed to determine whether the greater loading on the joint will lead to more rapid wear and a higher rate of loosening with time.

Reliability and Validity of the German Version of “The Patient-rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE)” as an Outcome Measure of Wrist Pain and Disability in Patients with Acute Distal Radius Fractures

The aim was to test the reliability and validity of the German version of the Patient-rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) for patients with acute distal radius fractures. To estimate the reliability and construct validity, 44 patients completed a questionnaire booklet containing the German PRWE, the Short Form-36 (SF-36), and the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) four to six weeks after the fracture, and the PRWE again seven days later. For reliability, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.94 for the PRWE total score. Its internal consistency was 0.89 (Cronbachs alpha). The PRWE total score showed a moderate correlation with the DASH (0.62) and the SF-36 subscale bodily pain (0.58). Low correlations were found with other scales of the SF-36. Based on our results the German PRWE is a practical, reliable, and valid instrument and can be recommended to measure patient-rated pain and disability in German-speaking patients with acute distal radius fracture.

Lessons learned during the cross-cultural adaptation of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons shoulder form into German

Cross-cultural adaptation and testing of reliability and validity were performed by use of a sample of 118 patients after shoulder arthroplasty. They completed a questionnaire booklet containing the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) questionnaire, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), Short Form 36, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, and 1 week later, they completed the ASES questionnaire again. The cross-cultural adaptation procedure revealed no major problems. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for the subscales for pain and function and for the total score were very high (>0.84); the ICC for the subscale instability was unacceptably low. Function of the contralateral side was consistently better for all items (P < .01). Reliability for both function scales was similar (ICC >0). The ASES scores showed moderate correlation of 0.57 to 0.67 with the various scales of the SF-36 and higher correlation with the DASH (0.84) and SPADI (0.92). The German ASES showed good reliability and validity and can be used for shoulder-specific patient self-assessment in comparison to the contralateral (unaffected) side and provides additional information to objective parameters. The instability domain does not provide any additional clinical information.

Responsiveness of five outcome measurement instruments in total elbow arthroplasty

To quantify and compare the sensitivity to change of 5 outcome instruments for the elbow joint.

Arthroscopic and Open Options for Surgical Treatment of Chondromatosis of the Elbow

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the treatment-specific outcome of surgical therapy of chondromatosis of the elbow with special attention on the complication and recurrence rate as well as induction of secondary osteoarthritis. METHODS A consecutive patient group from 1989 to 2003 was evaluated retrospectively and followed up clinically and radiologically. Special attention was paid to locking and catching, swelling, pain, loose bodies, and signs of osteoarthritis. In the case of a causal pathology, mostly osteoarthritis, the condition was classified as secondary; otherwise, it was classified as primary. The following scores were calculated: modified American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons questionnaire for elbows; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire; and Short Form 36. RESULTS Of 24 patients operated on, 19 (79%) were followed up after 56 months (range, 11 to 177 months). Of these, 10 were primary types and 9 secondary types. The extension deficit of 12 degrees preoperatively decreased to -9 degrees , and pain was significantly (P = .001) reduced. Postoperatively, 1 patient still reported occasional locking and 1 patient had swelling. In both patients no loose bodies could be identified by radiography. Comparison of the arthroscopic and open techniques showed a trend toward a shorter rehabilitation time of 2.4 months after arthroscopic intervention, in contrast to 4.6 months for an open procedure, and a trend toward higher patient satisfaction after arthroscopy. Comparison of the primary and secondary forms showed significantly (P = .042) better pain reduction for primary chondromatosis. Of the patients with distinct preoperative osteoarthritis, 44% showed ongoing osteophytic growth; there were no cases of new osteoarthritis. CONCLUSIONS Both open and arthroscopic approaches give satisfactory results with a trend toward shorter rehabilitation and higher patient satisfaction for the arthroscopic approach. Osteoarthritis is not induced and there is no danger of recurrence in the medium term. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III, therapeutic, retrospective comparative study.

Usefulness of concomitant biceps tenodesis in total shoulder arthroplasty: A prospective cohort study

The purpose of this report is to assess the association of concomitant biceps tenodesis in total shoulder arthroplasty with treatment success 1 year after total shoulder arthroplasty. Of 136 consecutive shoulders (124 patients) undergoing primary total shoulder arthroplasty between 2003 and 2006, 54 (39.7%) underwent biceps tenodesis. For each patient, we obtained potential preoperative confounding data, such as age; gender; presence of rheumatoid arthritis; Short Form 36; number of previous shoulder operations; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score; Shoulder Pain and Disability Index score; and insurance status. At the 1-year follow-up, we calculated the Constant score of all patients (ranging from 0 [worst] to 100 [best]). We first determined the crude association of concomitant biceps tenodesis with 1-year treatment success (Constant score > or =80) and then fitted a multivariate model correcting for potential confounders to assess the adjusted association of the biceps tenodesis on treatment success. The total number of treatment successes was 46 of 136 shoulders (33.8% of all prosthesis implantations). The crude association (odds ratio) of a concomitant biceps tenodesis with treatment success was 2.38 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15 to 4.93; P = .02). When adjusting for potential confounders, we found that this association slightly increased to 2.97 (95% CI 1.00 to 8.85; P = .05). Concomitant biceps tenodesis appears to have a favorable effect on 1-year treatment success after total shoulder arthroplasty.

Langzeitergebnisse mit spezifischen Implantaten - Unverblockte und halbverblockte Ellenbogenprothesen

Zur Behandlung eines zerstorten Ellenbogens gibt es viele Operationsmoglichkeiten, abhangig von Diagnose, Alter und Aktivitatslevel. Dieses Kapitel behandelt Indikationen, Planung, Operationstechnik und Resultate der Resurfacing-Arthroplastik am Ellenbogen. Auch wenn mehrere Ellenbogen-Resurfacing-Prothesen zur Verfugung stehen, so beschreibt vorliegendes Kapitel eine besonders in Grosbritannien populare Prothese: die Souter-Strathclyde-Prothese. Dieses Implantat wurde in den 1970ern entwickelt und in den letzten vier Jahrzehnten weltweit verwendet, hauptsachlich jedoch in Grosbritannien. Im Folgenden werden Indikationen, Operationstechniken und Langzeitergebnisse beschrieben und der Leser erhalt Ratschlage, wie das klinische Outcome und die Langzeituberlebensrate verbessert werden konnen.