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This prospective study compared the outcome — subjective, objective and radiographic — of two surgical techniques for treating basal joint arthritis of the thumb: a "simple" trapeziectomy (group I) and a ligament reconstruction/tendon (group II) interposition technique. There were respectively 22 patients in group I and 34 in group II, all women with primary osteoarthritis.

Both techniques gave favourable results and there were no significant differences for pain relief, patient satisfaction, mobility, DASH-score, key pinch force and gripping force. However in group II, the trapezial height was better preserved indicating that the proximal migration of the thumb was prevented or limited. There was also a significant correlation between the remaining trapezial space and key pinch force.

Twenty patients (14 males, six females) were assessed at an average of 32 months (ten to 156 months) after ray amputation using the disability shoulder, arm, hand (DASH) questionnaire, physical examination and functional testing. There were 14 border (eight index, six little) and six central ray (five middle, one ring) amputations. Our results showed on average 27% less grip and 22% three-point pinch strength in the operated hands. Peak power output was 22% and average work output 14% less on the operated side than the contralateral hand. The DASH function score was 29.2 (range 3.3–74.2). Nine patients returned to their previous occupation, two had to change jobs and two did not return to work. Six patients were not working, one was of school age. The ensuing disability remained within limits reflected by our measurements and the acceptance of the patients.

Background: The objective of this paper was to determine the validity, reliability and internal consistency of the translated FILIPINO DASH (FIL-DASH) questionnaire in patients with traumatic brachial plexus injuries.

Methods: Thirty-five adult patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury were enrolled in the validation stage. The same questionnaire was given to the patient between 7 to 14 days for the test-retest reliability. The validated Filipino version of the SF-36 was used as the gold standard to determine the construct validity of the translated DASH. We also compared the DASH score with the SF-36 total and subscale, validated Brief Pain Inventory Severity and Interference Scale and the Visual Acuity Scale (VAS) for Pain.

Results: The internal consistency was adequate, with Cronbach’s Alpha for the 30 items of 0.93 and an average inter-item covariance of 0.399. The test-retest reliability was 0.87 (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in establising the validity of the translated DASH against SF-36 total and Subscale, validated Brief Pain Inventory Severity and Interference Scale and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

Conclusions: The translated DASH (FIL-DASH) questionnaire was internally consistent and showed no difference in testing for test-retest reliability and validity against functional outcome measures and pain scales validated for adult Filipinos.

The purpose of the present study was to test the responsiveness of the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand version of the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (DASH-JSSH) by evaluating effect size (ES) and standardised response mean (SRM) in patients undergoing carpal tunnel release. Subjects comprised 25 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. All subjects completed the DASH-JSSH, medical outcomes 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) and visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain and underwent objective assessment of grip strength, pinch strength and static two-point discrimination before and three months after surgery. DASH-JSSH displayed the highest sensitivity to changes at three months, followed by VAS. All subscales of SF-36 were much less sensitive and both grip and pinch strength were unchanged over the three-month period. DASH-JSSH demonstrated more responsiveness to changes after carpal tunnel release than SF-36, VAS and physical measurements, and displayed correlations with subscales of SF-36.

The DASH score is a universally accepted method for assessment of hand function. However, there are occasions when a pre-treatment DASH score is unavailable. This study provides a solution to this situation. An initial DASH score was obtained from all patients at the time of their first clinic visit. A second score was obtained at the time of final follow-up asking the patient to "Recall" their pre-treatment status. The two scores were compared with appropriate statistical analysis. Thirty-eight patients were included in the study and scores were obtained at an average time interval of 32 weeks (6–121 weeks). Excellent agreement was noted for the ability of the patient population to recall their scores with a group correlation of 0.86. This proves that the Recall DASH score is an excellent and useful research tool for use in hand surgery.

The English version of Hand20 questionnaire was translated into Greek and cultural adaptation was performed. The validity was assessed in 134 patients with a variety of upper limb disorders. A comparison of Hand20 and DASH was also performed. All patients completed EQ-5D, Hand20 and DASH questionnaire. Test–retest reliability was assessed in a subgroup of 37 patients. We assessed the convergent validity of Hand20 by correlating its scores to DASH and EQ-5D scores. We also compared the completeness of Hand20 and DASH. We found no statistically significant differences in Hand20 scores between the 1st and 2nd measurements as well as a strong correlation between Hand20 and the other two questionnaires. There were also better rates of response and fewer missing data even in elderly individuals.