Validation of Duruöz Hand Index in patients with tetraplegia

Abstract

Study design: Cross-sectional, clinical measurement. Purpose: To investigate the validity of the Duruliz Hand Index (DHI) in the assessment of hand function in patients with tetraplegia. Methods: A total of 40 patients with tetraplegia participated. Patients' upper extremities were assessed on the level of 'body function and structure' [The American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) 2000 revised criteria, upper extremity motor score (UEMS), neurologic level of injury and visual analogue scale of hand function (VAS-HF)], 'activity' [DHI and Quadriplegia index of function-short form (QIF-SF)] and 'body function and structure, activity and participation' [Health Survey Short Form-36 (SF-36)] according to International Classification of Function. Results: The DHI showed significant correlations with UEMS, AIS, QIF-SF, VAS-HF, physical functioning and physical compound summary scores of SF-36. Conclusions: The DHI was found a valid method in the assessment of hand functions in patients with tetraplegia.