Patients with benign hand tumors are indicated for surgery according to patient-rated outcome measures.
BACKGROUND
This study assessed the treatment outcomes of upper extremity benign tumors using the patient-rated outcome measures of Hand20 questionnaire.


METHODS
In total, 304 patients who underwent surgery for benign bone and soft tissue tumors of the upper limb were included. Tumors were classified into three size groups: <1 cm, 1-3 cm, and >3 cm. Tumors were divided with respect to location: digit, hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, upper arm, or axilla. We prospectively assessed responses to the Hand20 questionnaire that was administered both before and after surgery.


RESULTS
The mean Hand20 and pain scores significantly improved after surgery in patients with ganglion cysts, giant cell tumors of the tendon sheath, enchondromas, or pyogenic granulomas. For patients with hemangiomas, schwannomas, or glomus tumors, although the mean pain scores improved significantly following surgery, there were no significant changes in the mean Hand20 scores. However, the statistical power for this analysis was low. The mean Hand20 and pain scores improved significantly, regardless of the size grouping. The mean Hand20 scores significantly improved after surgery in patients with finger, thumb, hand, or wrist tumors. Except for elbow to axillary tumors, the mean pain scores significantly improved in all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of Hand20 and pain scores suggest that most patients with benign hand tumors are indicated for surgery, but the degree of improvement differs according to tumor pathology and location but not size.
Department of Hand Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan. Electronic address: michi-ya@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp.
Michiro
M
Yamamoto
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kariya Toyota General Hospital, 5-15 Sumiyoshi-cho, Kariya 448-8505, Japan.
Tadahiro
T
Natsume
Department of Hand Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.
Shigeru
S
Kurimoto
Department of Hand Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.
Katsuyuki
K
Iwatsuki
Department of Hand Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.
Takanobu
T
Nishizuka
University of Michigan Medical School, 1301 Catherine, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Michael T
MT
Nolte
Department of Hand Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.
Hitoshi
H
Hirata
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002812:Chondroma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D045888:Ganglion Cysts / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000070779:Giant Cell Tumor of Tendon Sheath / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005918:Glomus Tumor / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017789:Granuloma, Pyogenic / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D018579:Patient Selection; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D047368:Tumor Burden; D034941:Upper Extremity; D055815:Young Adult
Benign hand tumor; Hand20; Patient-reported outcome measures; Surgery indication