Impairment level sumscore in reflex sympathetic dystrophy of one upper extremity.
OBJECTIVE
To construct a set of instruments to measure the level of impairment in reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), to convert the scores for each instrument into one score and to derive a compounded impairment level sumscore (ISS), and to evaluate reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the ISS.


METHODS
Literature search in Medline (1985 to 1995), non-Medline journals, and references from these reports for measurement parameters and suitable, reliable, responsive, and validated instruments.


RESULTS
Four measurement parameters (pain, active range of motion, temperature, and volume) and five measurement instruments were chosen to construct the ISS. All outcomes were converted into one score, resulting in an addable score.


RESULTS
Forty-five patients with RSD of one upper extremity were evaluated. As expected for this heterogeneous index, the internal consistency of the ISS was poor to moderate. The ISS seemed to have content and concurrent validity. The responsiveness of the ISS was adequate.


CONCLUSIONS
A multicomponent test was constructed to map alterations in the level of impairment in RSD patients. Each of the parameter scores could be translated into a uniform score. Adding the scores yielded the ISS.
Oerlemans
H M
HM
Allied Health Services, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Goris
R J
RJ
Oostendorp
R A
RA
D001132:Arm; D015987:Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012019:Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012881:Skin Temperature