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Published on: January 27, 2018
The challenge of diagnosing focal hand dystonia in musicians
J Rosset-Llobet1, V Candia, S Fàbregas i Molas
1Institut de Fisiologia i Medicina de l 'Art-Terrassa, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain. info@institutart.com
Insights
Diagnosing focal hand dystonia in musicians presents significant challenges for medical professionals. Many musicians are misdiagnosed, highlighting the need for increased awareness and specialized knowledge in the medical community.
Area of Science:
- Medical diagnostics
- Neurology
- Occupational health for musicians
Background:
- Focal hand dystonia in musicians is an unfamiliar medical domain for many clinicians.
- Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and management of musician's dystonia.
- Existing diagnostic pathways may not adequately address the specific needs of musicians.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diagnostic challenges related to musician's cramp (focal hand dystonia) within the Spanish medical community.
- To identify common misdiagnoses and inappropriate treatments prescribed before referral.
- To raise awareness among clinicians regarding this specialized condition.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of clinical histories and diagnosis records from 665 musicians.
- Specific examination of 87 cases diagnosed with focal hand dystonia.
- Survey of previous diagnoses and treatments received prior to specialized consultation.
Main Results:
- Referrals originated mainly from orthopedists and neurologists.
- Over 50% of focal dystonia cases arrived at the clinic without a correct diagnosis or suspicion.
- Common misdiagnoses included nerve compression, tendonitis, and trigger fingers.
- Frequently prescribed treatments were rest, surgery, physiotherapy, and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights significant diagnostic difficulties faced by medical professionals with musician's focal dystonia.
- There is a clear need for improved diagnostic accuracy and specialized training for clinicians.
- Current diagnostic and treatment approaches may not be optimal for musicians experiencing focal dystonia.
Background And Purpose:
To most clinicians, medical problems in musicians, particularly those concerning focal hand dystonia, constitute an unfamiliar domain difficult to manage. The latter can importantly influence diagnostics and the course of treatment. The purpose of this study was to enlighten the issue and to identify possible problems in diagnosing musicians' cramp within the Spanish medical community.
Methods:
We used a brief questions' catalog and clinical histories of 665 musicians seen at our clinic for performing artists. We analyzed patients' diagnosis records in 87 cases of focal hand dystonia (13.1%). In so doing, we surveyed previous diagnoses and diverse treatments prescriptions prior to referral to our clinic.
Results:
Referrals came primarily from orthopaedists and neurologists. The 52.9% arrived at our clinic without a diagnosis or a suspicion of suffering from focal dystonia. The most frequently attempted diagnoses other than musicians' dystonia included nerve compression, tendonitis and trigger fingers. Commonly prescribed treatments included rest, various surgical procedures, physiotherapy and oral anti-inflammatory medication.
Conclusions:
This data depicts the diagnostic challenges of medical professionals may encounter when confronted with musician's focal dystonia.
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