Postoperative improvement in DASH score, clinical findings, and nerve conduction velocity in patients with cubital tunnel syndrome.

We investigated a recovery pattern in subjective and objective measures among 52 patients with cubital tunnel syndrome after anterior subcutaneous transposition of the ulnar nerve. Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score (primary outcome), numbness score, grip and pinch strength, Semmes-Weinstein (SW) score, static 2-point discrimination (2PD) score, and motor conduction velocity (MCV) stage were examined preoperatively and 1, 3, 6, 12, and ≥24 months postoperatively. Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate how each variable improved after surgery. A linear mixed-effects model was used for continuous variables (DASH score, numbness, grip and pinch strength), and a proportional odds model was used for categorical variables (SW and 2PD tests and MCV stages). DASH score significantly improved by 6 months. Significant recovery in numbness and SW test scores occurred at 1 month. Grip and pinch strength, 2PD test scores, and MCV stage improved by 3 months. DASH scores and numbness recovered regardless of age, sex, or disease severity. It was still unclear if both subjective and objective measures improved beyond 1-year postoperatively. These data are helpful for predicting postoperative recovery patterns and tend to be most important for patients prior to surgery.

Effect of synovial transthyretin amyloid deposition on preoperative symptoms and postoperative recovery of median nerve function among patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The clinical characteristics of wild-type transthyretin amyloid deposition among patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) have not been well investigated. METHODS: One-hundred and seven patients with idiopathic CTS who underwent carpal tunnel release were enrolled. They underwent physical examination of the hand, nerve-conduction study, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of the wrist, and completed a patient-oriented questionnaire. The tests, except for MRI, were repeated 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Synovial tissue was obtained during surgery and analyzed by Congo red and immunohistochemical staining. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the significance of different clinical and subjective findings between patients with and without amyloid deposition. Postoperative improvements were also compared. RESULTS: Wild-type transthyretin amyloid deposition was observed for 38 patients. Greater symptom severity and 2-point discrimination scores, and larger cross-sectional areas of the carpal tunnel, were significantly correlated with a larger amount of preoperative amyloid deposition. However, the presence and amount of preoperative amyloid deposition did not affect postoperative improvements in physical findings and nerve-conduction studies. CONCLUSIONS: Although transthyretin amyloid deposition can worsen CTS symptoms, postoperative improvements were similar for patients with and without this deposition.

Reliability of the Hand20 questionnaire: comparison with the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey.

BACKGROUND: Hand20 is an illustrated, self-administered questionnaire comprising 20 short and easy-to-understand questions to assess upper limb disorders. This study aimed to test the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of Hand20. METHODS: Eighty-five patients with three upper limb disorders (51 with trigger finger, 29 with ulnar impaction syndrome, and five with carpal tunnel syndrome) completed Hand20, the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (DASH-JSSH), and the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Reliability was assessed by internal consistency. To test the validity, a factor analysis of Hand20 was performed and the correlation coefficients between Hand20 and DASH-JSSH and those between Hand20 and SF-36 were calculated. Responsiveness was evaluated in 47 patients with trigger finger as the standardized response mean and effect size after treatment. RESULTS: A Cronbach's α coefficient of 0.967 confirmed the unidimensionality of Hand20. The correlation coefficient between Hand20 and DASH-JSSH was 0.84. The correlations between Hand20 and the SF-36 subscales ranged from -0.236 to -0.596. Moderate correlations were observed for "Role-physical" (r = -0.596) and "Bodily pain" (r = -0.557). The correlation between the Hand20 and "Physical functioning" was weak (r = -0.313). The standardized response mean and effect size of Hand20 was 1.50 and 1.60, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Hand20 has evaluation capacities equivalent to those of DASH-JSSH. There was a moderate correlation between Hand20 and SF-36.

The effect of vascular pedicle preservation on blood flow and clinical outcome following ulnar nerve transposition.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of a technique to preserve the extrinsic vascular supply to the ulnar nerve after transposition and its effect on blood flow and clinical outcome. METHODS: We included 36 patients with cubital tunnel syndrome. The patients were randomly selected to undergo vascular pedicles-sparing surgery for anterior ulnar nerve transposition (VP group) or nerve transposition and artery ligation (non-VP group). Blood flow to the ulnar nerve was estimated intraoperatively at 3 locations in the cubital tunnel before and after transposition using a laser Doppler flowmeter. Clinical results at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery were also compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The blood flow before ulnar nerve transposition was not significantly different between the groups. Blood flow at all 3 locations after the ulnar nerve transposition was significantly higher in the VP group than in the non-VP group. Blood flow in the non-VP group reduced to values between 28% and 52% from the pre-transposition baseline values. After surgery, no significant differences were observed in the clinical results between the groups, except for the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scores at 12 months after surgery, which was greater in the non-VP group. CONCLUSIONS: The procedure of preserving the extrinsic vascular pedicles can prevent compromise of blood flow to the ulnar nerve immediately after nerve transposition. However, this procedure had no correlation to improved recovery of ulnar nerve function after surgery. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic II.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the upper extremity among the staff of a Japanese university hospital.

PURPOSE: The Hand20 is an outcome assessment tool developed in Japan to measure upper extremity disability. The purpose of this study was to investigate occupational musculoskeletal disorders in the upper extremity of hospital personnel and to obtain normative data for the Hand20 in a nonclinical population. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was carried out among 2,600 researchers and staff members of the Faculty of Medicine and its affiliated hospital. RESULTS: There were 1,120 responders who went to their daily work without consulting a doctor about any upper extremity disorders, and 232 of these responders complained of upper extremity pain. The mean Hand20 score was 2.67 [standard deviation (SD) 7.06]. Women tended to have significantly higher total Hand20 scores than men (mean ± SD: men = 2.03 ± 5.15, women = 2.94 ± 7.71, p < 0.01). The Hand20 score tended to increase in participants over 40 years of age (p < 0.001). Significant differences were not found by work intensity (p = 0.712). Binominal logistic analysis revealed that the risk of a high Hand20 score (over the 75 % inter-quartile range, over 13.1) was greater with increasing age [odd ratios (ORs) 1.051, 1.071, respectively] and female sex (ORs 1.786, 1.966, respectively), and that the risk of upper extremity pain was greater with increasing age (OR 1.051), heavy physical work (OR 2.042), and physical work (OR 1.916). CONCLUSIONS: Females in all age groups and both sexes in middle age or older need to be informed about their higher risk of upper extremity disorders and should be educated about how to avoid work-related musculoskeletal disorders and their progression.

Technical difficulties and their prediction in 2-portal endoscopic carpal tunnel release for idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify technical difficulties encountered during 2-portal endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR) and to determine their incidence. Furthermore, we assessed the possibility of preoperatively predicting such technical difficulties. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 311 hands of 311 patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome who underwent ECTR with our modified Chow 2-portal technique. Any technical difficulties during the procedure were reviewed and correlated with preoperative physical findings, nerve conduction studies, and magnetic resonance imaging findings, by use of the t test, χ(2) test, and binary regression analysis. RESULTS: One or more difficulties were encountered in 139 of 311 hands (44.7%), whereas surgery in the remaining 172 hands (55.3%) was performed without any difficulties. Technical difficulties encountered were as follows: tight access in 61 hands, difficulty in identifying the distal part of the transverse carpal ligament through the exit portal in 35 hands, synovial tissue being caught at the cannula tip when pulling it out of the carpal tunnel in 39 hands, steep angle of the cannula assembly with difficulty in emerging from the exit portal in 29 hands, and other difficulties. Postoperative worsening of symptoms was observed in 8 hands (2.6%), in all of which technical difficulties were encountered. Tight access was noted in younger patients and those with a small cross-sectional area at the hook-of-hamate level. The entire ECTR procedure for older female patients was more likely to be easily performed. CONCLUSIONS: The surgeon may face a variety of technical difficulties during ECTR. Technical difficulties were most often encountered during introduction of the cannula assembly into the carpal tunnel and pulling it out of the exit portal. Older female patients may be the best candidates for 2-portal ECTR. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Clinical, radiographic, and arthroscopic outcomes after ulnar shortening osteotomy: a long-term follow-up study.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have investigated the long-term outcomes of ulnar shortening osteotomy (USO) in the treatment of ulnocarpal abutment syndrome (UCA), but none have used arthroscopic assessments. The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term clinical outcomes of USO with patient-based, arthroscopic, and radiographic assessments. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 30 patients with UCA after a minimum follow-up of 5 years, with arthroscopic evaluations at the time of both USO and plate removal. We confirmed the initial diagnosis of UCA by radiography and arthroscopy. Mean age at the time of index surgery was 37 years. Mean duration of follow-up was 11 years (range, 5-19 y). We obtained Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand and Hand20 self-assessments postoperatively for all patients. Bony spur formation was evaluated postoperatively from plain radiographs. RESULTS: We detected triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) disc tear in 13 wrists arthroscopically at the time of USO. Of these, 10 showed no evidence of TFCC disc tear at second-look arthroscopy. The remaining 17 cases showed no TFCC disc tear at either first- or second-look arthroscopy. Follow-up radiography revealed that bony spurs at the distal radioulnar joint had progressed in 13 wrists. Disabilities of the Shoulder, Arm, and Hand and Hand20 scores did not significantly correlate with the presence of bony spurs or TFCC disc tears. Range of motion decreased significantly with age only. Lower grip strength correlated with bony spur and lower radial inclination. Triangular fibrocartilage complex tear, male sex, and advanced age were associated with lower Disabilities of the Shoulder, Arm, and Hand and Hand20 scores. CONCLUSIONS: Ulnar shortening osteotomy achieved excellent long-term results in most cases. Most TFCC disc tears identified at the initial surgery had healed by long-term arthroscopic follow-up. We suggest that UCA with a TFCC disc tear is a good indication for USO.

Responsiveness of the Japanese version of the patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE-J) and physical impairment measurements in evaluating recovery after treatment of ulnocarpal abutment syndrome.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the responsiveness of patient-derived questionnaires and physical findings in evaluating recovery after treatment of ulnocarpal abutment syndrome. METHODS: Patients were assessed at their initial visit to our clinic and again 3 months after the treatment. At each visit, patients completed a Short Form-36, the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand version of Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (DASH-JSSH), and the Japanese version of patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE-J). Grip strength, range of motion, and visual analogue scale for wrist pain were also examined at each visit. Satisfaction with treatment was questioned after 3 months using a Likert scale. Standardized response means (SRM) and effect sizes were calculated to evaluate the responsiveness. RESULTS: The PRWE-J (SRM, 1.35) was the most responsive questionnaire, followed by the DASH-JSSH (SRM, 0.81) and the Short Form-36 (SRM, -0.38 to -1.19). Of the physical tests, grip strength (SRM, 0.81) was more responsive than range of motion (SRM, 0.01 to -0.29). The visual analogue pain scale (SRM, 1.56) was highly responsive. Changes in the PRWE score were correlated with the satisfaction rating for the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Responsive patient-derived scales can assist in the outcome evaluation of patients with ulnocarpal abutment syndrome.

Results of ulnar shortening osteotomy for ulnocarpal abutment after malunited distal radius fracture.

Surgical correction for ulnocarpal abutment syndrome after malunited distal radius fracture remains controversial. We reviewed sixteen patients (7 men, 9 women) who underwent isolated ulnar-shortening osteotomy for ulnar wrist pain as their main complaint. Mean age was 48 years. The range of flexion-extension increased from 81 degrees to 103 degrees, and range of supination-pronation from 120 degrees to 142 degrees after osteotomy. Mean grip strength increased from 49% to 69%. Mayo wrist score was excellent in 2 cases, good in 7 cases, fair in 6 cases, and poor in 1 case. Grip strength was found to correlate with radial inclination and flexion-extension range with the amount of ulna shortening.

Development and validation of a ten-item questionnaire with explanatory illustrations to assess upper extremity disorders: favorable effect of illustrations in the item reduction process.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to develop a short and valid measure for upper extremity disorders and to assess the effect of attached illustrations in item reduction of a self-administered disability questionnaire while retaining psychometric properties. METHODS: A validated questionnaire used to assess upper extremity disorders, the Hand20, was reduced to ten items using two item-reduction techniques. The psychometric properties of the abbreviated form, the Hand10, were evaluated on an independent sample that was used for the shortening process. RESULTS: Validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the Hand10 were retained in the item reduction process. It was possible that the use of explanatory illustrations attached to the Hand10 helped with its reproducibility. The illustrations for the Hand10 promoted text comprehension and motivation to answer the items. These changes resulted in high acceptability; more than 99.3% of patients, including 98.5% of elderly patients, could complete the Hand10 properly. CONCLUSION: The illustrations had favorable effects on the item reduction process and made it possible to retain precision of the instrument. The Hand10 is a reliable and valid instrument for individual-level applications with the advantage of being compact and broadly applicable, even in elderly individuals.

Arthroscopic findings of Kienböck's disease.

PURPOSE: Kienböck's disease affects the lunate bone, and osteoarthritic changes progress as the disease advances; however, relatively few studies have reported the arthroscopic findings of Kienböck's disease, and these reports have been in small populations. The purpose of this study was to review arthroscopic findings in a larger population than studied in previous reports. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 57 patients who underwent radial osteotomy for Kienböck's disease after arthroscopy of both the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints. All arthroscopic findings were classified as follows in terms of the location of osteoarthritic changes: lunate fossa of the radius, proximal/distal surface of the lunate bone, and capitate head. Radiological stages were classified according to the modified Lichtman's classification system. RESULTS: All but two patients had cartilage lesions in the proximal lunate cartilage. Older patients had significantly more cartilage lesions, but radiological stage showed no correlation with the number of cartilage lesions. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the proximal lunate bone was affected in most cases of Kienböck's disease and that older patients had more cartilage lesions.

High prevalence of wild-type transthyretin deposition in patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome: a common cause of carpal tunnel syndrome in the elderly.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common type of entrapment neuropathy. However, the cause of carpal tunnel syndrome remains unclear in most cases. Senile systemic amyloidosis, induced by wild-type transthyretin deposition, is a prevalent aging-related disorder and often accompanied by carpal tunnel syndrome. In this study, we measured the frequency of unrecognized wild-type transthyretin deposition in patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome. One hundred twenty-three patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, including 100 idiopathic patients, treated by carpal tunnel release surgery were analyzed. Tenosynovial tissues obtained at surgery were analyzed by Congo red and immunohistochemical staining. If staining for transthyretin was positive, the entire transthyretin gene was analyzed by direct DNA sequencing. We also analyzed tenosynovial tissues from 32 autopsy cases as controls. Thirty-four patients (34.0%) with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome showed amyloid deposition in the tenosynovial tissue, and all amyloid showed specific immunolabeling with antitransthyretin antibody. Direct DNA sequencing of the entire transthyretin gene did not reveal any mutations, indicating that all amyloid deposits were derived form wild-type transthyretin. Statistical analysis using logistic regression showed that the prevalence of transthyretin deposition in the idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome group was significantly higher than that in controls (odds ratio, 15.8; 95% confidence interval, 3.3-5.7), and age and male sex were independent risk factors for transthyretin amyloid deposition. Our results demonstrate that wild-type transthyretin deposition is a common cause of carpal tunnel syndrome in elderly men. It is likely that many patients develop carpal tunnel syndrome as an initial symptom of senile systemic amyloidosis.

Reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Japanese version of the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation is a regionspecific, self-administered questionnaire consisting of a pain scale (PRWE-P) and a functional scale (PRWE-F), with the latter consisting of specific function (PRWE-SF) and usual function (PRWE-UF). The PRWE was cross-culturally adapted from the original English version by the Impairment Evaluation Committee, Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand (JSSH). The purpose of this study was to test the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Japanese version of PRWE (PRWE-J). METHODS: A consecutive series of 117 patients with wrist disorders completed the PRWE-J, the JSSH version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH-JSSH) questionnaire and the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Of the 117 patients, 71 were reassessed for test-retest reliability 1 or 2 weeks later. Reliability was investigated by reproducibility and internal consistency. To analyze the validity, a factor analysis (principal axis factoring) of PRWE-J and correlation coefficients between PRWE-J and DASH-JSSH were obtained. Responsiveness was examined by calculating the standardized response mean (SRM) (mean change/SD) and effect size (mean change/SD of baseline value) after open surgery in 50 patients. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha coefficients for PRWE-P, PRWE-F, and PRWE were 0.90, 0.95, and 0.95, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for the same were 0.86, 0.93, and 0.92, respectively. Unidimensionality of PRWE-P was con-firmed. Bidimensionality of PRWE-F was confirmed and separated clearly into PRWE-SF and PRWE-UF. The correlation coefficients between PRWE-P and PRWE-F or DASH-JSSH were 0.63 or 0.63, respectively. The correlation coefficient between PRWE-F and DASH-JSSH was 0.80. The correlation coefficients between DASH-JSSH and PRWE-SF or PRWE-UF were 0.76 or 0.73, respectively. Moderate correlation was observed in "physical functioning" for SF-36 and PRWE-SF (r = -0.46), PRWE-F (r = -0.46), or PRWE (r = -0.46). The SRMs/effect sizes of PRWE-P, PRWE-F, or PRWE were respectively excellent: 1.7/2.2, 1.2/1.3, 1.6/1.9. CONCLUSIONS: The PRWE-J has evaluation capacities equivalent to those of the original PRWE.

Long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes after open reduction for missed Monteggia fracture-dislocations in children.

BACKGROUND: There have been few reports on the long-term outcomes after the operative treatment of missed Monteggia fracture-dislocations in children. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes after open reduction for the treatment of a missed Monteggia fracture-dislocation. METHODS: We postoperatively investigated the clinical and radiographic outcomes for twenty-two children with a missed Monteggia fracture. The study group included fourteen boys and eight girls who had had a mean age of ten years (range, four years to fifteen years and eleven months) at the time of open reduction. Each patient had been managed with open reduction of the radial head combined with a posterior bending elongation ulnar osteotomy and anular ligament reconstruction. Clinical and radiographic outcomes were reviewed over a mean duration of follow-up of seven years. RESULTS: The postoperative Mayo Elbow Performance Index at the time of follow-up ranged from 65 to 100, with nineteen excellent, two good, one fair, and no poor results. The radial head remained in a completely reduced position in seventeen patients and was subluxated in five patients at the time of the latest follow-up. In four patients, osteoarthritic changes were observed at the radiohumeral joint. Radiographically, there were fifteen good, seven fair, and no poor results. A good radiographic result was obtained in all of the patients who had undergone open reduction within three years after the injury or before the age of twelve years, whereas a fair result was obtained in seven of the remaining eight patients. CONCLUSIONS: If open reduction for the treatment of a missed Monteggia fracture is performed when the patient is less than twelve years of age or within three years after the injury, good long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes can be expected.

Electrophysiological responsiveness and quality of life (QuickDASH, CTSI) evaluation of surgically treated carpal tunnel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the correlation between Japanese versions of patient-oriented questionnaires and electrophysiological examinations in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHODS: A series of 45 patients who were diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome and subsequently underwent carpal tunnel release surgery were analyzed. There were 8 men and 37 women with an average age of 64.8 years. They completed the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand version of the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Instrument (CTSI-JSSH), which consisted of a Symptom Severity Score (CTSI-JSSH-SS), Functional Score (CTSI-JSSH-FS), and Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand version-Quick Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (QuickDASH-JSSH) both preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. Nerve conduction studies (NCSs) were also performed and included motor distal latency (MDL) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) measurements. The responsiveness of each instrument was evaluated by calculating the standardized response mean (SRM) and effect size (ES). Correlation coefficients between preoperative and postoperative questionnaire scores and NCS parameters were calculated. RESULTS: Responsiveness (SRM/ES) was as follows: CTSI-JSSH-SS (-1.06/-1.14), CTSI-JSSH-FS (-0.75/-0.74), Quick-DASH-JSSH (-0.65/-0.62), MDL (-1.45/-1.11), and the neurophysiological stage of the disease (-0.90/-1.42). No significant correlation was observed between the preoperative and postoperative patient-oriented questionnaires and nerve conduction studies (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although NCSs and the Japanese version of patient-oriented questionnaires are highly responsive to treatment, they are not parallel. Multifaceted assessment of CTS treatment is possible by performing both outcome measurements.

Repair of the triangular fibrocartilage complex after ulnar-shortening osteotomy: second-look arthroscopy.

PURPOSE: Ulnar shortening is a widely used procedure for various conditions associated with ulnar wrist pain, including triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injury; however, few reports have examined the condition of the TFCC after osteotomy. The central avascular zone of the TFCC generally is considered to have no potential to heal. This study investigated whether the avascular zone of the TFCC has any potential for repair, and whether repair of the torn disc proper correlates with clinical findings. METHODS: Between 1987 and 2005, we performed 75 second-look arthroscopies after an ulnar-shortening osteotomy for ulnar wrist disorders. Of these, 32 wrists with a TFCC (disc proper) tear on first arthroscopy were included in this study. Data from patient charts, radiography, and video images of arthroscopy were reviewed retrospectively. Tears of the disc proper were classified as radial, central, or ulnar tears, and as either linear or round tears. RESULTS: Meticulous second-look arthroscopy showed repair of tears in 50% of studied wrists. Round tears tended to repair better than linear tears. Although the final clinical score was better in repaired wrists than in nonrepaired wrists, no marked differences were noted between groups in terms of age, gender, preoperative ulnar variance, follow-up period, or surgical procedures used. CONCLUSIONS: The avascular zone of the TFCC possesses some potential for repair; however, factors promoting spontaneous repair of this tissue were not identified. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.

Validation of the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand version of the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Instrument.

BACKGROUND: The Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Instrument (CTSI) is a disease-specific, self-administered questionnaire that consists of a symptom severity scale (SS) and a functional status scale (FS). The CTSI was cross-culturally adapted and developed by the Impairment Evaluation Committee, Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand (JSSH). The purpose of this study was to test the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Japanese version of the CTSI (CTSI-JSSH). METHODS: A consecutive series of 87 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome completed the CTSI-JSSH, the JSSH version of the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (DASH-JSSH), and the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Seventy-two of the patients were reassessed for test-retest reliability 1 or 2 weeks later. Reliability was investigated by the reproducibility and the internal consistency. To analyze the validity, a factor analysis (principal axis factoring) of the CTSI-JSSH and the correlation coefficients between the CTSI-JSSH and DASH-JSSH were obtained. The responsiveness was examined by calculating the standardized response mean (SRM; mean change/SD) and effect size (mean change/SD of baseline value) after carpal tunnel release in 42 patients. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the CTSI-JSSH-SS and the CTSI-JSSH-FS were 0.84 and 0.90, respectively, and the intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.82 and 0.83, respectively. The unidimensionality of the CTSI-JSSH-SS was barely confirmed; the unidimensionality of the CTSI-JSSH-FS was confirmed. The correlation coefficients between the CTSI-JSSH-FS and the CTSI-JSSH-SS or DASH-JSSH were 0.58 and 0.80, respectively. The correlation coefficient between the CTSI-JSSH-SS and DASH-JSSH was 0.54. The correlation coefficients between the subscales of SF-36 and the CTSI-JSSH-SS or the CTSI-JSSH-FS ranged from -0.23 to -0.66 and from -0.19 to -0.63, respectively. The SRMs/effect sizes of the CTSI-JSSH-SS and the CTSI-JSSH-FS were -0.85/-0.99 and -0.70/-0.61, which indicated that they were more than moderately sensitive. CONCLUSIONS: The CTSI-JSSH has sufficient reliability, validity, and responsiveness to assess the health status in carpal tunnel syndrome.

Comparative responsiveness of Japanese versions of the DASH and SF-36 questionnaires and physical measurement to clinical changes after carpal tunnel release.

The purpose of the present study was to test the responsiveness of the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand version of the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (DASH-JSSH) by evaluating effect size (ES) and standardised response mean (SRM) in patients undergoing carpal tunnel release. Subjects comprised 25 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. All subjects completed the DASH-JSSH, medical outcomes 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) and visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain and underwent objective assessment of grip strength, pinch strength and static two-point discrimination before and three months after surgery. DASH-JSSH displayed the highest sensitivity to changes at three months, followed by VAS. All subscales of SF-36 were much less sensitive and both grip and pinch strength were unchanged over the three-month period. DASH-JSSH demonstrated more responsiveness to changes after carpal tunnel release than SF-36, VAS and physical measurements, and displayed correlations with subscales of SF-36.

Multicenter study for Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease in Japan.

BACKGROUND: The Japanese Pediatric Orthopaedic Association created a project team in 2000 to research pediatric orthopedic disease through a multicenter study. The aim of this study was to collect epidemiological data on Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) in Japan. METHODS: The following data were collected by a survey: age, sex, date of diagnosis, family history, sports history, affected sites, symptoms, location of pain, Catterall classification, Herring classification, date of treatment initiation, treatment methods, bracing period, and Stulberg classification. RESULTS: A total of 711 patients with 766 affected hips were seen from January 1, 1993 to December 31, 1995. The average annual incidence of LCPD was 0.9/100 000. The average age at diagnosis was 7 years 1 month (2.3-14.3 years). The male/female ratio of the study population was 6.3 : 1.0. The affected-side ratio (right hip/left hip/both hips) was 5.1 : 6.8 : 1.0. Both hips were affected in 7.7% of this series. By the Stulberg classification there were 211 (69.4%) type I and II patients (of 304 total patients). Six treatment methods for unilateral LCPD were compared, and there were no significant differences in outcome among the six groups. The ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that the Herring classification, age at the time of diagnosis, and the affected side (for unilateral LCPD) were significant predictors. The ordinal logistic regression analysis also showed that operative treatment had a better outcome than conservative treatment, with an odds ratio of 1.872. CONCLUSIONS: Many containment methods for LCPD have been performed in Japan, and the optimal treatment method for LCPD was not determined in this study. The overall outcome, however, was not worse than that in worldwide reports.

Effect of hyaluronic acid on the excursion resistance of tendon graft: a biomechanical in vitro study in a modified human model.

BACKGROUND: Adhesion between the tendon and tendon sheath after flexor tendon graft inhibits restoration of excursion and strength of the grafted tendons, so post-operative finger function is occasionally unsatisfactory. Early setting rehabilitation is one important factor to prevent the adhesion, and another factor may be a lubricant. We considered the possibility of utilizing hyaluronic acid as a lubricant. The goal of this study is to investigate the in vitro effect of hyaluronic acid on tendon excursion resistance against a digital pulley in a modified human model. METHODS: The excursion resistance between grafted intrasynovial and extrasynovial tendons and A2 pulley were evaluated, and compared before and after soaking in 10 mg/ml hyaluronic acid. FINDINGS: The resistance increased after extrasynovial tendon graft, and then it decreased after soaking hyaluronic acid solution. INTERPRETATION: The evidence we collected suggests that some style of administration of the hyaluronic acid might reduce the excursion resistance in the tendon-pulley unit, facilitating post-operative rehabilitation and limiting adhesion, after tendon graft and possibly improve the clinical outcome of flexor tendon graft.