title: Comparison of assessment tools to score recovery of function after repair of traumatic lesions of the median nerve.
abstract: In this paper the recovery after repair of the median nerve has been used to compare different assessment tools for evaluation of peripheral nerve function: touch (moving 2-point discrimination (2PD); Semmes-Weinstein (SW) monofilament, motor (Medical Research Council (MRC) scale), combined motor and sensory (Dellon modification of the Moberg pick up test; Moberg Recognition test), and pain (visual analogue scale; pinprick-test). The mean (SD) age of our 28 patients was 28 (12) years. The mean (SD) follow-up period was 5 years, 2 months (2 years, 8 months). On the operated side three patients (11%) had a moving 2PD of less than 4 mm. The results of the moving 2PD were compared with those of the SW monofilaments, but with a poor correlation. The MRC score correlated well with opposition movement of the thumb and muscle wasting (p<0.01). We recommend a number of tests to evaluate (the chronological return of) peripheral nerve function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Coert
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Meek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D009068:Movement; D053580:Muscle Strength; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012677:Sensation