Functional and Quality of Life Outcomes of a Hand Surgery Mission to Honduras

Background: The objective of this study was to assess functional, quality of life, and satisfaction outcomes of a hand surgery short-term surgical mission (STSM) to Honduras, and determine whether patient demographics and surgery characteristics during a surgical mission correlate with outcome. Methods: A total of 63 patients who received upper extremity surgery at a week-long hand surgery STSM to Honduras in March 2013 participated in the study. A before-after study design was used. Before receiving surgery, participants completed the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire and the Short Form 12 Health Survey version 2 (SF12v2). Four months postoperatively, participants completed the QuickDASH, SF12v2, and Satisfaction Survey. Results: The mean QuickDASH score significantly improved preoperatively to postoperatively. Demographics measures of age, sex, education, and income did not correlate with QuickDASH scores. Preoperative QuickDASH statistically significantly correlated with surgery type: Carpal tunnel patients had the highest scores (worst functioning). Postoperatively, mass excision and scar contracture/skin graft patients were correlated with the lowest scores. Carpal tunnel and tendon surgery patients showed greatest correlation with QuickDASH improvement. SF-12 scores revealed improvements in mental domains and declines in physical domains. Conclusions: Hand surgery performed during STSMs can result in significant functional improvement, regardless of socioeconomic status. Patients benefited from both simpler and more complex operations. Four months after surgery, general health-related quality of life measures showed improved mental indices. Measured physical indices declined despite improved QuickDASH scores. This may be due to the early general postoperative state. Further outcome research in STSMs in additional countries and specialties is required to expand our conclusions to other STSM contexts and guide best practices in STSMs.