Alterations in dexterity and manual function in patients with focal hand dystonia

Focal hand dystonia is a movement disorder whose symptoms cause alterations in the performance of tasks requiring a high level of dexterity. Currently, there is no model for interpreting the disease and few studies have identified the difficulties of patients with dystonia in carrying out activities of daily living (ADL). This study aims to describe manipulative dexterity and its influence on ADLs in patients with focal hand dystonia.

We performed an observational, cross-sectional, case-control study including 24 participants (12 patients with focal hand dystonia and 12 controls). The patients were referred by the neurology department of Hospital Ramón y Cajal. We gathered sociodemographic data, as well as retrospective clinical data for patients. We subsequently administered evaluation tests, in the following order: Nine-Hole Peg Test (NHPT), Box and Blocks Test (BBT), Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT), and Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function (JTTHF).

The study sample included a total of 24 participants, 7 women and 17 men, with a mean age (standard deviation) of 50.79 (14.40) years. In the patient group, neuromuscular involvement or psycho-emotional problems were not detected in half of cases; smaller numbers of patients presented difficulties associated with the right shoulder (25%) and anxious state (33.3%).

Our results indicate that focal hand dystonia affects manipulative dexterity in these patients, who showed poorer performance and required more time to complete the tasks.