Author/Editor		Burger, Helena; Vidmar, Gaj
Title		A survey of overuse problems in patients with acquired or congenital upper limb deficiency
Type		članek
Vol. and No.		Letnik 40, št. 4
Publication year		2016
Volume		str. 497-502
ISSN		0309-3646 - Prosthetics & Orthotics International (Taylor & Francis Ltd)
Language		eng
Abstract		Background: Little is known about secondary impairments and overuse problems in patient with acquired or congenital upper limb deficiency. Objectives: Our aim was to estimate the frequency of overuse problems in persons after unilateral upper limb deficiency and identify the factors relevant for development of these problems. Study design: Cross-sectional study conducted at the University Rehabilitation Institute in Ljubljana. Methods: In total, 65 persons after unilateral upper limb deficiency who had visited our subspecialist outpatient clinic during the 2011-2013 period (excluding those with other possible medical causes of overuse-type problems) were interviewed about the frequency, duration and severity of neck, elbow and shoulder pain and the presence of carpal tunnel syndrome and filled in the Orthotics and Prosthetics User Survey-Upper Extremity Functional Status questionnaire. Results: The most frequent problem was carpal tunnel syndrome, followed by shoulder pain, neck pain and elbow pain. No statistically significant association of deficiency level, cause of deficiency, time since deficiency, extent of daily prosthesis use or type of prosthesis with frequency or severity of pain or number of problems was found. The presence of carpal tunnel syndrome decreased from wearing no prosthesis through aesthetic and body-powered to myoelectric prosthesis (p = 0.014). Conclusion: Factors contributing to overuse problems after upper limb deficiency are not straightforward, so a large multicentric study is warranted.
Keywords		upper limb amputation overuse carpal tunnel syndrome prostheses Orthotics and Prosthetics User Survey