Structural damage of the hand in hand osteoarthritis: impact on function, pain, and satisfaction

As hand osteoarthritis (HOA) is a highly prevalent disease, the purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between structural damage of the hand in HOA patients and assess its impact on their hand function, pain, and satisfaction.

This prospective cross-sectional study included 60 postmenopausal women aged 60-70 years, all of whom underwent structural damage assessments using the Kellgren-Lawrence scale and the Altman Atlas, as well as completed the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) to assess their hand function, pain, and satisfaction. To examine the influence of HOA grade on these outcomes, patients were segregated into three groups (grade II-IV), and their average MHQ subscale scores were compared.

The three groups differed in terms of scores achieved on all MHQ subscales: overall hand function-right hand (H =35.42, p <0.001), overall hand function-left hand (H =29.94, p <0.001), activities of daily living-right hand (H =39.88, p <0.001), activities of daily living-left hand (H =33.82, p <0.001), activities of daily living-both hands (H =30.93, p <0.001), activities of daily living-total (H =37.81, p <0.001), work performance (H =32.33, p <0.001), pain-right hand (H =27.94, p <0.001), pain-left hand (H =24.63, p <0.001), appearance-right hand (H =26.28, p <0.001), appearance-left hand (H =23.82, p <0.001), satisfaction-right hand (H =22.40, p =0.001), and satisfaction-left hand (H =26.71, p <0.001).

The study findings reveal that respondents with more severe structural damage experienced more significant pain, reported greater functional and work-related limitations, and were more dissatisfied with the function and appearance of their hands. HIPPOKRATIA 2022, 26 (1):7-12.