title: Do we underestimate influences of diabetic mononeuropathy or polyneuropathy on hand functional performance and life quality?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to identify whether there are differences in hand dexterity, hand functional performance and quality of life between diabetes patients with mononeuropathy and polyneuropathy of their hands to further present the importance regarding the impacts of diabetic neuropathic deficits on patients' functional capacity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The neurological deficits of 127 patients with type 2 diabetes were examined by electrophysiological tests for the median and ulnar nerves, and were stratified into the diabetic mononeuropathy, diabetic polyneuropathy and non-diabetic neuropathy groups by sensory amplitude of these nerves. The Purdue pegboard test, Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire, and Diabetes-39 were carried out to understand patients' hand dexterity, functional hand performance and quality of life, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed significant differences in all subtests of the Purdue pegboard test among the three groups. Furthermore, aesthetics, patient's satisfaction of the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire and diabetes control, sexual functioning, energy, and mobility of the Diabetes-39 also showed significant differences among the three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study shows the patients with polyneuropathy suffer from more negative impacts on hand functional performance and quality of life than those with mononeuropathy and without neuropathy. These findings might assist both patients and clinicians in better realizing the impacts of neuropathic hands, and planning suitable strategies of intervention or health education to prevent declines in hand functions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Ju
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.|Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiu-Yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chieh-Hsiang
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yen-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.affiliation: Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Haw-Yen
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.|Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.|Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Chieh
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009431:Neural Conduction; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: Hand function; Hand neuropathy; Quality of life