title: Are standardized patient self-reporting instruments applicable to the evaluation of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study attempts to confirm that the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Outcome Measure self-administered questionnaire is valid specifically for ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. Validity of the Levine-Katz questionnaire for ulnar neuropathology compared with DASH was also studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight patients with isolated ulnar nerve surgery completed a 6-month evaluation. Patients were assigned a clinical stage. The DASH and Levine-Katz questionnaires were administered, and pinch and grip strength were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. Levine-Katz questionnaires were correlated with DASH to establish criterion validity. Construct validity was tested by determining a relationship between scores and clinical stages and by comparing scores preoperatively and postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a high correlation between DASH scores and symptom severity and functional status. Although correlations were significant between DASH and biomechanical measures, correlation coefficients were lower. Postoperatively, all measures improved significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms that scores on the DASH questionnaire reflect the clinical staging of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.
authors.affiliation: The Curtis National Hand Center, Union Memorial Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Neal B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: Marc B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Kaye
authors.forename: E F Shaw
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Wilgis
authors.forename: Ryan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: Norman H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Dubin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010358:Patient Participation; D011336:Probability; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D020424:Ulnar Neuropathies / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult