TY - JOUR
T1 - Satisfaction with upper extremity surgery in individuals with tetraplegia
AU - Gregersen, Hanne
AU - Lybæk, Mille
AU - Lauge Johannesen, Inger
AU - Leicht, Pernille
AU - Nissen, Ulla Vig
AU - Biering-Sørensen, Fin
PY - 2015/3/1
Y1 - 2015/3/1
N2 - Objective: To supplement the scant information available regarding the satisfaction of patients with tetraplegia following upper extremity reconstructive surgery for such individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Study design: Retrospective study with questionnaire follow-up. Setting: The Danish Spinal Cord Injury Centers. Material and methods: In the initial review period, 119 upper extremity surgeries were performed on patients with tetraplegia (n = 49). Seven died and the remaining 42 were invited to complete a follow-up questionnaire with a five-level scale ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree regarding satisfaction. Forty patients completed the questionnaire. Results: Median time from first surgery was 13 years (2-36). Sixty-five percent of the sample had a C5-C6 SCI, with 64% experiencing complete injury. Initially, 76% of the sample expressed general satisfaction with life, but only 28% of the sample reported that hand appearance improved after surgery. Interestingly, those having surgery from 1991 to 2008 reported significantly greater satisfaction (P < 0.001) and were significantly more satisfied with activities of daily living (ADL) (P < 0.001) than those having surgery between the years 1973 and 1990. In particular, gain of independence was obtained with pinch/specific hand surgery compared to triceps activation. Accordingly, the pinch/specific hand surgery group was significantly more satisfied than the triceps group on the ADL (P = 0.027), and the independence questions (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Overall satisfaction with upper extremity surgery is high. It can have a positive impact on life in general, ability to perform ADL, as well as supplying an increased level of independence.
AB - Objective: To supplement the scant information available regarding the satisfaction of patients with tetraplegia following upper extremity reconstructive surgery for such individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Study design: Retrospective study with questionnaire follow-up. Setting: The Danish Spinal Cord Injury Centers. Material and methods: In the initial review period, 119 upper extremity surgeries were performed on patients with tetraplegia (n = 49). Seven died and the remaining 42 were invited to complete a follow-up questionnaire with a five-level scale ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree regarding satisfaction. Forty patients completed the questionnaire. Results: Median time from first surgery was 13 years (2-36). Sixty-five percent of the sample had a C5-C6 SCI, with 64% experiencing complete injury. Initially, 76% of the sample expressed general satisfaction with life, but only 28% of the sample reported that hand appearance improved after surgery. Interestingly, those having surgery from 1991 to 2008 reported significantly greater satisfaction (P < 0.001) and were significantly more satisfied with activities of daily living (ADL) (P < 0.001) than those having surgery between the years 1973 and 1990. In particular, gain of independence was obtained with pinch/specific hand surgery compared to triceps activation. Accordingly, the pinch/specific hand surgery group was significantly more satisfied than the triceps group on the ADL (P = 0.027), and the independence questions (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Overall satisfaction with upper extremity surgery is high. It can have a positive impact on life in general, ability to perform ADL, as well as supplying an increased level of independence.
U2 - 10.1179/2045772314Y.0000000259
DO - 10.1179/2045772314Y.0000000259
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 25243666
SN - 1079-0268
VL - 38
SP - 161
EP - 169
JO - Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine
JF - Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine
IS - 2
ER -