title: Cut-off value for self-reported abnormal cold sensitivity and predictors for abnormality and severity in hand injuries.
abstract: Our aim was to identify a cut-off value for self-reported, abnormal cold sensitivity and to identify cold sensitivity predictors after hand injuries. The Cold Intolerance Symptom Severity (CISS) questionnaire and a VAS question concerning discomfort on exposure to cold were investigated in 94 normal people and 88 patients. A CISS score >50 was defined as abnormal cold sensitivity. Multiple injured digits, an increased number of injured vessels, complete nerve injury and replantation were variables associated with high VAS scores. Factors linked to both abnormality and worse CISS or VAS scores were: the presence of bone injury; a larger number of repaired vessels; the use of vascular grafts and a high Hand Injury Severity Score (HISS). The causes of abnormality and severity suggest a multifactorial aetiology with bony, vascular and neural components. A cut-off for abnormality is useful for descriptive, comparative and assessment purposes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery and Department of Orthopaedics, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, Sweden. Ingela.k.carlsson@hotmail.com
authors.forename: I K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Carlsson
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Dahlin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult