Poststroke hand swelling and oedema: prevalence and relationship with impairment and disability.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence of swelling and oedema of the hand in stroke patients and relationships with impairments and disability.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Stroke unit at Rehabilitation Centre De Hoogstraat, The Netherlands.


METHODS
Eighty-eight adult stroke patients who were admitted for clinical rehabilitation during one year (2000).


METHODS
Assessment took place two weeks after admission to the rehabilitation centre. Degree of swelling was measured with a hand volumeter and oedema was defined as a volumeter score deviating more than two standard deviations from the expected score derived from population data. Further assessment included tonus (Modified Ashworth Score), sensibility, tactile inattention, carefulness, and motor function (Utrecht Arm/Hand Test). Arm disability was measured with Frenchay Arm Test and Nine-hole Peg Test.


RESULTS
Some degree of hand swelling was present in 72.7% and oedema in 33.0% of our patients. Swelling and oedema were significantly more often seen in patients with hypertonic fingers and impaired sensibility. Patients with hand oedema had significantly worse Frenchay Arm Test and Nine-hole Peg Test scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Swelling and oedema of the hand are common among stroke patients in clinical rehabilitation.
Boomkamp-Koppen
H G M
HG
Rehabilitation Centre De Hoogstraat, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Visser-Meily
J M A
JM
Post
M W M
MW
Prevo
A J H
AJ
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004487:Edema / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation