The value of the Van Lieshout test in assessment of the upper limb function in patients with cervical tetraplegia
- Authors: Bushkov F.A.1, Romanovskaya E.V1, Usanova E.V1, Fedotkina L.E1
-
Affiliations:
- Rehabilitation Center “Preodolenie"
- Issue: Vol 26, No 3 (2019)
- Pages: 51-56
- Section: Articles
- URL: https://journals.eco-vector.com/2073-4034/article/view/297026
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.18565/pharmateca.2019.3.51-55
- ID: 297026
Cite item
Open Access
Access granted
Abstract
Background. An important issue for the rehabilitation of patients with cervical tetraplegia (CT) is the introduction of sensitive and relevant scales and tests to assess the hand function. Assessment of the hand and arm function using the Van Lieshout test provides an objective quantitative assessment of the quality of the performance of the important daily motor tasks. Objective. Identification of factors affecting the upper limb and the hand function in patients with cervical tetraplegia using the Van Lieshout test. Methods. The study included 217 patients who underwent a comprehensive rehabilitation course for the month in the settings of a rehabilitation center. The neurological level of damage - the C3-D1 segments of the spinal cord; the duration of spinal injury was 3.0 (3.0-10.0) years. The examination included determination of the neurological level, injury completeness, calculation of the motor score of the upper limb, as well as an assessment of the level of functional independence in the base (Van Lieshout test) and complex (motor FIM) motor domains. Results. According the results of correlation and regression analyses, it was shown that the upper limb motor function in 65% of cases depends on the neurological status (neurological level, injury completeness, upper limb motor score); against the background of physical rehabilitation, an improvement in the functional state of the patients according to the Van Lieshout test - and FIM score was revealed (a high degree of correlation between both functional motor scales (R2=0.79-0.80). Conclusion. The functional state of the hand and upper limb in patients with cervical tetraplegia (Van Lieshout test) depends on the severity of neurological deficit. This test is an affordable and effective tool that objectifies and guides the course of the rehabilitation process.
Keywords
Full Text
About the authors
Fedor A. Bushkov
Rehabilitation Center “Preodolenie"
Email: bushkovfedor@mail.ru
PhD, Doctor in Physical Therapy
E. V Romanovskaya
Rehabilitation Center “Preodolenie"
E. V Usanova
Rehabilitation Center “Preodolenie"
L. E Fedotkina
Rehabilitation Center “Preodolenie"
References
- Sinnott K.A., Dunn J.A., Rothwell A.G. Use of the ICF conceptual framework to interpret hand function outcomes following tendon transfers for tetraplegia. Spinal Cord. 2004;42(7):396-400.
- Snoek G.J., Ijzerman M.J., Hermens H.J., et al. Survey of the needs of patients with spinal cord injury: impact and priority for improvement in hand function in tetraplegics. Spinal Cord. 2004;42(9):526-32.
- American Spinal Injury Association. Reference manual for the international standards for neurological classification of spinal cord injury. Chicago (IL): Am. Spinal Injury Ass. 2003.
- Hamilton B.B., Laughlin J.A., Granger C.V., Kayton R.M. Interrater Agreement of the Seven Level Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1991;72:790.
- Hall K.M., Cohen M.E., Wright J., et al. Characteristics of the Functional Independence Measure in traumatic spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1999;80(11):1471-76.
- Marino R.J., Huang M., Knight P., et al. Assessing selfcare status in quadriplegia: comparison of the quadriplegic index of function (QIF) and the functional independence measure (FIM). Paraplegia. 1993;31:225-33.
- Van Tuijl J.H., Janssen-Potten Y.J., Seelen H.A. Evaluation of upper extremity motor function tests in tetraplegics. Spinal Cord. 2002;40(2):51-64.
- Mulcahey M.J., Hutchinson D., Kozin S. Assessment of upper limb in tetraplegia: considerations in evaluation and outcomes research. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2007;44(1):91-102.
- Lieshout G.V. User manual Van Lieshout Test. iRv: Hoensbroek. 2003.
- Post M.W.M., Van Lieshout G., Seelen H.A.M., et al. Measurement properties of the short version of the Van Lieshout test (VLT-SF). Spinal Cord. 2006;44(12):763-71.
- Spooren A.I., Janssen-Potten Y.J., Post M.W., et al. Measuring change in arm hand skilled performance in persons with a cervical spinal cord injury: responsiveness of the Van Lieshout Test. Spinal Cord. 2006;44(12):772-79.
- Ditunno J.F. Jr., Burns A.S., Marino R.J. Neurological and functional capacity outcome measures: essential to spinal cord injury clinical trials. J Rehabil Res. Dev. 2005;42(3, Suppl. 1):35-41.
- Marino R.J., Rider-Foster D., Maissel G., Ditunno J.F. Superiority of motor level over single neurological level in categorizing tetraplegia. Paraplegia. 1995;33:510-13.
- Curtin M. Development of a tetraplegic hand assessment and splinting protocol. Paraplegia. 1994;32(3):159-69.
- Zafonte R.D., Demangone D.A., Herbison G.J., Ditunno J.F. Jr. Daily self-care in quadriplegic subjects. Neurol. Rehabil. 1991;l:17-24.
Supplementary files
