The Current State of Outcome Measurements After Peripheral Nerve Injury: A Systematic Review
Purpose: The manner in which outcomes are reported after peripheral nerve injury (PNI) varies tremendously and often centers on surgeon-manual muscle testing. The purpose of our systematic review was to quantify the use of outcome measures after PNI in the contemporary literature (published in 2008...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589514124002482 |
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| author | Abigail G. Carey-Ewend, BS Jake H. Goldfarb, BA Zachary D. Randall, BS David M. Brogan, MD, MSc Christopher J. Dy, MD, MPH |
| author_facet | Abigail G. Carey-Ewend, BS Jake H. Goldfarb, BA Zachary D. Randall, BS David M. Brogan, MD, MSc Christopher J. Dy, MD, MPH |
| author_sort | Abigail G. Carey-Ewend, BS |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: The manner in which outcomes are reported after peripheral nerve injury (PNI) varies tremendously and often centers on surgeon-manual muscle testing. The purpose of our systematic review was to quantify the use of outcome measures after PNI in the contemporary literature (published in 2008 and beyond) and to evaluate which domains of recovery are assessed most frequently. Methods: With the assistance of a medical librarian, we performed a systematic review of the literature published in or after 2008 (to represent the last 15 years) for patients with upper-extremity PNI. We excluded articles with <5 participants, minors, brachial plexus or digital nerve injuries, compressive neuropathies, or <6 months of follow-up. Data were extracted to identify which outcome measures were used in each study, categorizing the outcome measures under the domains of motor, sensory, function, and pain. Results: Of the 4 outcome domains (pain, motor, sensory, and function), motor was reported the most frequently, followed by function. Within the motor category, more than two-thirds of the studies used manual muscle testing for assessment. Half of the articles reported outcomes in 2 of the 4 assessed domains. Pain was the least assessed domain, reported in 11 of 68 articles. Conclusion: While there has been incorporation of functional outcomes, the majority of the literature in the last 15 years remains focused on surgeon-reported muscle testing and does not adequately reflect the multiple domains affected by PNI. Pain is the least frequently reported domain, despite being an issue that frequently vexes PNI patients. Clinical Relevance: There is a need for clinicians and researchers to agree upon a common set of outcome measures for PNI that (A) encompass perspectives of clinicians and patients and (B) reflect multiple domains affected by PNI. This will improve the quality of outcome reporting and facilitate future comparative effectiveness studies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8ac15076151f48eba84f3029fe7d422a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2589-5141 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online |
| spelling | doaj-art-8ac15076151f48eba84f3029fe7d422a2025-08-20T02:52:23ZengElsevierJournal of Hand Surgery Global Online2589-51412025-03-017219219510.1016/j.jhsg.2024.12.001The Current State of Outcome Measurements After Peripheral Nerve Injury: A Systematic ReviewAbigail G. Carey-Ewend, BS0Jake H. Goldfarb, BA1Zachary D. Randall, BS2David M. Brogan, MD, MSc3Christopher J. Dy, MD, MPH4Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MissouriWashington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MissouriWashington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MissouriWashington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MissouriWashington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; Corresponding author: Christopher J. Dy, MD, Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Campus Box 8233, 660 Euclid Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110.Purpose: The manner in which outcomes are reported after peripheral nerve injury (PNI) varies tremendously and often centers on surgeon-manual muscle testing. The purpose of our systematic review was to quantify the use of outcome measures after PNI in the contemporary literature (published in 2008 and beyond) and to evaluate which domains of recovery are assessed most frequently. Methods: With the assistance of a medical librarian, we performed a systematic review of the literature published in or after 2008 (to represent the last 15 years) for patients with upper-extremity PNI. We excluded articles with <5 participants, minors, brachial plexus or digital nerve injuries, compressive neuropathies, or <6 months of follow-up. Data were extracted to identify which outcome measures were used in each study, categorizing the outcome measures under the domains of motor, sensory, function, and pain. Results: Of the 4 outcome domains (pain, motor, sensory, and function), motor was reported the most frequently, followed by function. Within the motor category, more than two-thirds of the studies used manual muscle testing for assessment. Half of the articles reported outcomes in 2 of the 4 assessed domains. Pain was the least assessed domain, reported in 11 of 68 articles. Conclusion: While there has been incorporation of functional outcomes, the majority of the literature in the last 15 years remains focused on surgeon-reported muscle testing and does not adequately reflect the multiple domains affected by PNI. Pain is the least frequently reported domain, despite being an issue that frequently vexes PNI patients. Clinical Relevance: There is a need for clinicians and researchers to agree upon a common set of outcome measures for PNI that (A) encompass perspectives of clinicians and patients and (B) reflect multiple domains affected by PNI. This will improve the quality of outcome reporting and facilitate future comparative effectiveness studies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589514124002482Nerve repair outcomesPeripheral nerve injuryUpper-extremity nerve injury |
| spellingShingle | Abigail G. Carey-Ewend, BS Jake H. Goldfarb, BA Zachary D. Randall, BS David M. Brogan, MD, MSc Christopher J. Dy, MD, MPH The Current State of Outcome Measurements After Peripheral Nerve Injury: A Systematic Review Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online Nerve repair outcomes Peripheral nerve injury Upper-extremity nerve injury |
| title | The Current State of Outcome Measurements After Peripheral Nerve Injury: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | The Current State of Outcome Measurements After Peripheral Nerve Injury: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | The Current State of Outcome Measurements After Peripheral Nerve Injury: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Current State of Outcome Measurements After Peripheral Nerve Injury: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | The Current State of Outcome Measurements After Peripheral Nerve Injury: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | current state of outcome measurements after peripheral nerve injury a systematic review |
| topic | Nerve repair outcomes Peripheral nerve injury Upper-extremity nerve injury |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589514124002482 |
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