Cold hypersensitivity after hand injuries. A prospective 7-year follow-up

Area of Science:

• Hand Surgery
• Traumatology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Severe hand injuries can lead to long-term cold hypersensitivity.
• Understanding the progression of cold sensitivity is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess changes in cold hypersensitivity from 3 to 7 years post-severe hand injury.
• To evaluate the long-term impact on daily activities and leisure.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study of 71 patients with severe hand injuries.
• Postal questionnaires administered at 3 and 7 years post-injury.
• Utilized the McCabe Cold Sensitivity Severity scale (CSS) and self-reported scales.

Main Results:

• No significant change in CSS scores for cold sensitivity between 3 and 7 years.
• Trend towards decreased self-reported cold hypersensitivity severity.
• 21% reported improvement in the last 2 years; only two patients fully recovered.
• No change in limitations related to cold exposure or leisure activities.

Conclusions:

• Cold hypersensitivity following severe hand injuries shows little change in severity between 3 and 7 years.
• While some patients experience improvement, complete resolution is uncommon.
• Functional limitations related to cold exposure persist long-term.