Prediction of reflex sympathetic dystrophy in hemiplegia by evaluation of hand edema.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the predictive value of measurements of hand edema for the development of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD).


METHODS
Cohort study.


METHODS
Departments of rehabilitation medicine in 3 general hospitals and 1 rehabilitation hospital in Japan.


METHODS
Thirty-four stroke patients.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Measurement of the circumference of the middle finger was used to evaluate hand edema. The degree of hand edema was expressed by the ratio of circumference of the middle finger (RCMF) in the affected side to that in the uninvolved extremity.


RESULTS
Eight of 34 patients developed clinical RSD from 2 to 4 months after stroke. Hand edema showed a significant relationship to the development of RSD (ie, the patients who had an RCMF of above 1.06 at 4 weeks poststroke had significantly higher incidence of RSD than those with a lower RCMF; P=.0127).


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible to predict the development of RSD in hemiplegia by measuring hand edema 4 weeks poststroke.
Iwata
Manabu
M
Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki-shi , Japan.
Kondo
Izumi
I
Sato
Yoshihiro
Y
Satoh
Kei
K
Soma
Masashi
M
Bar-Or
Oded
O
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004487:Edema / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D012019:Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Q000209:etiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*