Hand surgery and quality of life

The outcome in patients having surgery to the hand was assessed subjectively using a questionnaire that covered activities of daily living (ADL), hand pain and psychological well-being. The questionnaires were completed on average 6.9 months preoperatively and 20.6 months postoperatively by 15 patients with osteoarthritis undergoing trapeziectomy and 25 patients with rheumatoid arthritis undergoing Swanson arthroplasties of the metacarpophalangeal joints. Surgery resulted in significant improvements in reported ADL and hand pain, in both groups. Improvement in perception of hand function and health was only seen in the osteoarthritic group. There was no improvement in arthritis activity, mood or quality of life in either group. These results confirm that surgery for arthritis of the hand relieves pain and improves ADL. However, it has a greater effect in patients with localized osteoarthritis than in those with rheumatoid arthritis.