Satisfaction with upper-extremity surgery in individuals with tetraplegia.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the satisfaction of individuals with tetraplegia with their upper-extremity reconstructive surgery.


METHODS
Survey.


METHODS
Two Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems centers.


METHODS
Sixty-seven individuals with spinal cord injury at the C4 through C8 motor level (107 arms).


METHODS
Participants had upper-extremity surgery to improve function. The surgical procedures included tendon transfers for elbow extension, wrist extension, hand grasp, and pinch or hand grasp neuroprosthesis.


METHODS
A survey was mailed to participants, who were asked to respond to statements such as, "If I had it to do over, I would have the hand/arm surgery again," using a 5-level Likert scale (ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree).


RESULTS
Seventy percent of the participants were generally satisfied with the results of their upper-extremity surgery, 77% reported a positive impact on their lives, 68% reported improvements in activities of daily living (ADLs), 66% reported improved independence, 69% reported improvement in occupation, 71% reported improved appearance or neutral, 78% reported their hand worked as well (or neutral) as it did when surgery was first performed, and 86% reported postoperative therapy as being beneficial.


CONCLUSIONS
Upper-extremity surgery had a positive impact on life, increased ability to perform ADLs and to be independent, and improved quality of life.
Wuolle
Kathryn Stroh
KS
Cleveland Functional Electrical Stimulation Center, Louis B. Stokes Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA.
Bryden
Anne M
AM
Peckham
P Hunter
PH
Murray
Patrick K
PK
Keith
Michael
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001186:Artificial Limbs / Q000523:psychology; D003625:Data Collection; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013709:Tendon Transfer / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome