QuickDASH Score Is Associated With Treatment Choice in Patients With Trapeziometacarpal Arthrosis

Trapeziometacarpal (TMC) arthrosis has a variety of treatment options, including nonoperative (eg, education, splint, injection) and operative management. Symptoms and limitations vary greatly among patients. The purpose of this study was to determine an association of symptoms and limitations, quantified using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) score, with treatment choice in patients newly diagnosed with TMC arthrosis. We also addressed the association of the QuickDASH score with radiographic severity and sought factors associated with higher QuickDASH scores.

As part of the routine new patient intake paperwork, all new patients completed a QuickDASH form. We included 81 new patients with newly diagnosed TMC arthrosis visiting the office of 1 of 5 orthopedic hand surgeons between March 1, 2015, and November 30, 2015. Eight patients were excluded because of incomplete QuickDASH forms.

Based on QuickDASH tertiles, patients with a low QuickDASH score were more likely to choose education alone than patients with intermediate and high QuickDASH scores; no patients in the lowest QuickDASH tertile chose injection or surgery. Patients who chose education alone also had a lower mean QuickDASH score than patients who chose splint or surgery. Radiographic severity and other patient-related factors were not associated with greater symptoms and limitations.

More adaptive patients (lower QuickDASH) are less likely to choose injection or surgery, irrespective of disease severity. The psychosocial factors known to correlate with greater symptoms and limitations might lead patients to feel they have fewer options or to choose more interventional options than they would if they were more at ease. In other words, inadequate attention to psychosocial factors may increase the risk of misdiagnosis of patient preferences.