Abstract
Study design: Retrospective cohort study.
Objective: To quantify the hand function of C6 and C7 tetraplegics 1–16 years after injury.
Setting: Patients were assessed in their homes.
Methods: Medical records of patients admitted to the Prince Henry Hospital Spinal Injuries Unit between 1984 and 1999 were used to identify all patients with C6 or C7 tetraplegia at 3 months post injury. Sixty-five patients (107 hands) were identified in this way. Forty-seven patients (81 hands) were located and agreed to partake in the study, and seven (nine hands) had died. Thus 81% of patients (83% of hands) still alive at follow-up were assessed.
Main outcome measures: Unilateral hand function was assessed with the Grasp and Release Test (GRT) and a 10 item Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Test. Prevalance and severity of contractures, lateral grasp (key grip) strength and extensibility of the extrinsic finger flexor muscles were also determined.
Results: All hands except one had been managed without surgical intervention. The median number of ADL tasks successfully completed was 9/10 (interquartile range=8–10) and the median number of objects successfully manipulated in the GRT was 3/6 (IQ range=3–5). Lateral grasp was poor (74% and 75% of hands could not use a lateral grasp to move the paperweight or depress the fork in the GRT, respectively), and the prevalence of contractures was low (53% of hands had full passive range of motion).
Conclusion: In the long term, most C6 and C7 tetraplegics attain a high level of hand function despite poor lateral grasps.
Spinal Cord (2001) 39, 37–43.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Harvey, L., Batty, J., Jones, R. et al. Hand function of C6 and C7 tetraplegics 1–16 years following injury. Spinal Cord 39, 37–43 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.sc.3101101
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.sc.3101101
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Characterizing neurological status in individuals with tetraplegia using transcutaneous spinal stimulation
Scientific Reports (2023)
-
Minimal handgrip force is needed for transcutaneous electrical stimulation to improve hand functions of patients with severe spinal cord injury
Scientific Reports (2022)
-
Quantitative ultrasound imaging of intrinsic hand muscles after traumatic cervical spinal cord injury
Spinal Cord (2022)
-
Associations between upper extremity functioning and kinematics in people with spinal cord injury
Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation (2021)
-
Socio-demographic and injury-related factors contributing to activity limitations and participation restrictions in people with spinal cord injury in Bangladesh
Spinal Cord (2018)