Validation of the Polish version of the Hand Function Scoring system.

BACKGROUND: The Hand Function Scoring (HFS) system was created to assess the results of rehabilitation treatment after hand injuries. A perceived hand function improvement in patients who underwent carpal tunnel syndrome surgery prompted us to use the Watts HFS questionnaire in our study. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to: 1) translate and validate the new questionnaire into Polish; 2) analyze the usefulness of the scale in the preand post-operative assessment of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome; and 3) compare the results with other questionnaires recognized as the gold standard in carpal tunnel treatment evaluation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with electromyographically confirmed carpal tunnel syndrome (n = 317) were enrolled in the study. Participants completed the HFS, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ), and the Quality-of-Life Scale (QoLS) on their first visit to our clinic. Two weeks later, 84 patients completed the same questionnaires again, and 6-12 months after the operation, we received 90 additional responses. RESULTS: The analysis showed that the HFS questionnaire met the validation criteria and had a strong correlation with the BCTQ questionnaire for the Symptoms Severity Scale (SSS) (Rho = 0.70, p < 0.001) and the Functional Status Scale (FSS) (Rho = 0.89, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The HFS questionnaire was successfully employed in the subjective assessment of carpal tunnel symptom syndrome severity and the analysis of treatment results, and would complement the clinical assessment of patients during treatment. The questionnaire could also be used in future scientific research.

Validation of the Polish versions of the Lower Limb Task Questionnaire, Lower Limb Functional Index, and Lower Limb Functional Index-10.

BACKGROUND: Physicians who treat patients with lower limb diseases should pay attention not only to the patients' clinical condition but also to their individual needs and expectations. For this purpose, many different questionnaires can be employed. This study aimed to validate the Lower Limb Task Questionnaire (LLTQ), Lower Limb Functional Index (LLFI), and Lower Limb Functional Index-10 (LLFI-10) for their use in Polish conditions and to perform a mutual comparison and analysis of differences in subjective assessments by patients who undergo hip or knee arthroplasty. METHODS: The LLTQ, LLFI, and LLFI-10 were translated into Polish. A total of 103 patients who qualified for hip or knee arthroplasty at a University Hospital in from 2019 to 2021 were included in this study. The patients were asked to complete the Polish versions of the LLTQ, LLFI, LLFI-10, Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), and Short Form-36 four times - twice before and twice after their surgeries. RESULTS: The Polish versions of the LLTQ, LLFI, and LLFI-10 had good psychometric properties. One year after surgery, the Cohen's standard response mean revealed high improvement of limb functionality and thus quality of life among all patients. We observed better treatment outcomes among patients who had hip osteoarthritis. CONCLUSIONS: The questionnaires were validated and can be used both in everyday health practice and in further research in Poland.

The adaptation of Polish version of Six-Item Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms Scale.

BACKGROUND: The Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the most common peripheral neuropathy. The diagnosis could be made by taking the medical history from a patient or by physical examination or by performing electroneurography. The aims of the study were (1) to translate and adaptate the Polish version of the Six-Item Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms Scale (CTS-6 SS) and (2) to analyse the associations between different Patients-Reported Outcome Measures and nerve conduction studies (NCS). METHODS: One-hundred and fifty patients consistent with inclusion criteria filled the CTS-6 SS, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and the Hand (DASH) and Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) during their first visit to the clinic. Then, they had the NCS done. After two weeks, 99 patients filled the CTS-6 SS for the second time. RESULTS: The Polish version of CTS-6 SS revealed good psychometric properties: high values of internal consistency, test-retest reliability and validity. The construct validity showed strong correlation with BCTQ - R = 0.87 (p < 0.05) for Symptoms Severity Scale (SSS) and R = 0.64 (p < 0.05) Functional Status Scale (FSS). Additionally CTS-6 SS has at least moderate correlation with DASH R = 0.53 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The Polish version of translated scale was adapted and used together with NCS complete the overall picture of patients suffering from CTS. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study.

The Polish version of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire: Associations between patient-rated outcome measures and nerve conduction studies.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between nerve conduction studies and three commonly used patient-reported outcome measures (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand [DASH], Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire [MHQ], and the Polish version of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire [BCTQ]) METHODS: A total of 218 consecutive patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) completed the BCTQ, MHQ, and DASH questionnaires followed by nerve conduction studies on their first visit to the clinic. RESULTS: After a 14-day interval, 189 of these patients completed the BCTQ for the second time. The Polish version of the BCTQ was shown to have excellent internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and validity. The BCTQ's construct validity revealed a strong correlation with MHQ and DASH (both R>0.7; P<0.05). Generally, compound motor action potential amplitudes correlated slightly with MHQ (R=0.22; P<0.05) and its subscales, while sensory nerve action potential conduction velocities had a low correlation with the BCTQ's symptom severity scale (R=-0.16; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The Polish BCTQ version demonstrated good psychometric properties. It can be used both in clinical and research practice. Objective results of diagnostic procedure influenced patients' lives as measured by subjective questionnaires.