Using Sensorized Gloves and Dimensional Reduction for Hand Function Assessment of Patients with Osteoarthritis

Sensorized gloves allow the measurement of all hand kinematics that are essential for daily functionality. However, they are scarcely used by clinicians, mainly because of the difficulty of analyzing all joint angles simultaneously. This study aims to render this analysis easier in order to enable the applicability of the early detection of hand osteoarthritis (HOA) and the identification of indicators of dysfunction. Dimensional reduction was used to compare kinematics (16 angles) of HOA patients and healthy subjects while performing the tasks of the Sollerman hand function test (SHFT). Five synergies were identified by using principal component (PC) analyses, patients using less fingers arch, higher palm arching, and a more independent thumb abduction. The healthy PCs, explaining 70% of patients’ data variance, were used to transform the set of angles of both samples into five reduced variables (RVs): fingers arch, hand closure, thumb-index pinch, forced thumb opposition, and palmar arching. Significant differences between samples were identified in the ranges of movement of most of the RVs and in the median values of hand closure and thumb opposition. A discriminant function for the detection of HOA, based in RVs, is provided, with a success rate of detection higher than that of the SHFT. The temporal profiles of the RVs in two tasks were also compared, showing their potentiality as dysfunction indicators. Finally, reducing the number of sensors to only one sensor per synergy was explored through a linear regression, resulting in a mean error of 7.0°.

Dynamic assessment of the wrist after total wrist arthroplasty

Our aim was to assess the outcome in patients with total wrist arthroplasty performed for end stage wrist osteoarthritis. We analysed the ranges of motion of operated and un-operated wrists using a flexible electrogoniometer during the Sollerman hand function test. We assessed grip strength with a digital dynamometer and completed patient reported outcome scores more than one year post-operatively. We reviewed 12 patients with a mean age of 64 (range 48–82) years. The flexion-extension arc was 72% and radioulnar deviation arc was 53% of the un-operated side but the total range of motion (area of circumduction) was 43% of the un-operated side and only 20% of the circumduction in age and gender-matched normal volunteers. Peak grip strength was 68% of the un-operated side. The patients reported good outcome with mean Michigan Hand Questionnaire (MHQ) scores of 56 (range 25–84) and mean Patient Evaluation Measure (PEM) scores of 39 (range 20–68). Patients completed the activities of Sollerman hand function test in twice the time (6 min) as required for a normal volunteer (2.8 min). The circumduction ellipses were narrow and central with limited radio-ulnar deviation and small mean areas of motion during activities of daily living.

Comparison of activities of daily living after proximal row carpectomy or wrist four-corner fusion

Proximal row carpectomy and four-corner fusion are commonly used in the patients with scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse or scapholunate advanced collapse. We compared activities of daily living of the 24 patients after proximal row carpectomy with 24 patients with four-corner fusion procedures using the modified Sollerman hand function test and Michigan Hand Questionnaire. Most tasks were performed significantly quicker by the patients after proximal row carpectomy. The patients after proximal row carpectomy reported better function during activities of daily living. Level of Evidence: Level III, Therapeutic Study.

Pengaruh transfer of motor skill learning dari tangan sehat terhadap peningkatan fungsional tangan paresis pasien stroke subakut

This study aimed to demonstrate the effect of transfer of motor skill learning from healthy hand on increasing functional paretic’s hand of stroke patient. This was a descriptive study conducted at the Instalation of Medical Rehabilitation, Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Hospital Manado. There were 26 patients of subacute stroke that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. All subjects were trained for 6 weeks and then were evaluated with nine hole peg test dan Sollerman hand function test. The results showed that of the 26 patients, 15 (57.7%) were males. The highest percentages were as follows: mean of age was 57.58 years old (38.5%), onset of stroke was less than 10 weeks (65.4%), and nonhaemorrhagic stroke (88.5%). The Wilcoxon test showed that there were significant differences of nine hole peg test and Sollerman hand function test scores before and after exercise (P <0.001). Conclusion: Transfer of motor skill learning from healthy hand could increase functional paretic hand of stroke patients.Keywords: stroke, transfer of motor skill, bilateral transfer, mirror neuronAbstrak: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk membuktikan pengaruh transfer of motor skill learning tangan sehat terhadap peningkatan fungsional tangan paresis pasien stroke subakut. Jenis penelitian ini ialah deskriptif. Penelitian dilaksanakan di Instalasi Rehabilitasi Medik RSUP Prof Dr. R. D. Kandou Manado. Sebanyak 26 orang pasien stroke fase subakut yang memenuhi kriteria inklusi. Semua subyek diberi latihan selama 6 minggu kemudian dilakukan penilaian dengan nine hole peg test dan Sollerman hand function test. Hasil penelitian memperlihatkan dari 26 subjek, persentase tertinggi ialah laki-laki sebanyak 15 orang (57,7%), usia rata-rata ialah 57,58 tahun (38,5%), onset terjadinya stroke kurang dari 10 minggu (65,4%), dan stroke non-hemoragik (88,5%). Hasil uji Wilcoxon menyatakan terdapat perbedaan bermakna pada nilai nine hole peg test dan Sollerman hand function test sebelum (awal) dan sesudah (akhir) perlakuan (p <0,001). Simpulan: Transfer of motor skill learning tangan yang sehat dapat meningkatkan fungsional tangan paresis pasien stroke subakut.Kata kunci: stroke, transfer of motor skill, bilateral transfer, mirror neuron

Timed Sollerman hand function test for analysis of hand function in normal volunteers

This study describes the development and application of the timed Sollerman hand function test in normal volunteers and the effect of age, gender, dominance and handedness on hand function. A total of 100 volunteers (50 men and 50 women) aged between 20 to 70 years were asked to complete the Sollerman hand function test. We measured the time taken to complete the 20 tasks using seven grips. Volunteers completed the tasks a mean of 20 seconds quicker with the dominant than with the nondominant hand. Individuals who are strongly right-handed showed a pronounced difference taking less time with the dominant hand. Women took less time to complete all tasks in age groups 30 to 40 years, than women in age groups 20 to 30 years and beyond 40 years using the dominant hand. Men also showed worsening performance with age. The centile curves of the total time taken to complete all 20 Sollerman tasks between the ages of 20 to 70 years will allow investigators to adjust their findings for age before attributing observed differences to disease or its treatment.

The functional results of post-traumatic metacarpal hand reconstruction with microvascular toe transfers

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the functional results of grip reconstruction after metacarpal amputation with microvascular toe transfer or transfers. The Sollerman hand function test and modified Tamai score were determined. Additionally, secondary objective outcomes were measured. As subjective outcomes, the patients were asked about pain, satisfaction, sensibility and activities of daily living (ADL). Complications and secondary operations were also recorded. An average of 12 years 5 months (range 11–270 months) follow-up of 8 patients (11 transfers) is presented. Sollerman hand function test averaged 54, range 36–73. The modified Tamai score averaged 63, range 54–70. All except one patient were either satisfied or highly satisfied. Patients’ perception of function in terms of ADL was generally good (average 26 out of 44) with many activities causing no difficulty or only slight difficulty. The study showed that it is possible to reconstruct a reasonable grip using microvascular toe transfers.