Kinesiophobia and Functional Outcomes in Hand Injuries

N/ANot Yet RecruitingNCT07668544

Ebru Aloğlu Çiftçi100 enrolled

Overview

Hand and forearm injuries are among the most common traumatic injuries and may result in substantial functional limitations, reduced work capacity, and decreased quality of life. Despite advances in surgical repair techniques, recovery outcomes vary considerably among individuals with similar injury characteristics. Psychological factors, particularly fear of movement or reinjury (kinesiophobia), may influence rehabilitation participation and functional recovery after injury. The aim of this prospective observational study is to investigate the relationship between early kinesiophobia levels and functional outcomes in adults who undergo surgical treatment for traumatic hand or forearm lacerations. Kinesiophobia will be assessed during the acute post-injury period (within 1-5 days after injury) using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia. Injury severity will be evaluated using the Modified Hand Injury Severity Classification (MHISC/MEYCS). Participants will be followed for 12 weeks after injury. Functional recovery will be assessed at the 8th week using the Buck-Gramcko Score and the Sollerman Hand Function Test, and at the 12th week using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire and hand grip strength measurements. The study will examine whether higher levels of early kinesiophobia are associated with greater injury severity and poorer functional recovery. Findings from this study may help identify patients at risk for delayed recovery and support the development of early rehabilitation strategies targeting psychological as well as physical aspects of hand injury recovery.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

100

Conditions

Interventions

Standard Surgical Treatment and Routine Postoperative CareOTHER

Participants with traumatic hand or forearm injuries will receive surgical treatment and postoperative management according to routine clinical practice and the treating surgeon's decision. No experimental treatment, device, medication, or rehabilitation protocol will be administered as part of the study. The study is observational in nature and aims to evaluate the relationship between early kinesiophobia levels, injury severity, and subsequent functional outcomes following standard surgical care.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: Adults aged 18 years and older. Patients presenting to the emergency department with traumatic hand or forearm lacerations requiring surgical treatment. Injury involving one or more anatomical structures of the hand or forearm (skin, tendon, nerve, vessel, or combined injuries). Assessment within 1-5 days following injury. Ability to understand and complete study questionnaires and functional assessments. Provision of written informed consent. Willingness to participate in follow-up assessments at 8 and 12 weeks after injury. Exclusion Criteria: Age younger than 18 years. Cognitive impairment, severe psychiatric disorder, or communication problems preventing completion of questionnaires. Previous major injury, surgery, or permanent functional impairment of the affected upper extremity. Polytrauma or additional injuries that may substantially affect upper extremity function or rehabilitation outcomes. Neurological disorders affecting upper extremity function (e.g., stroke, peripheral neuropathy, spinal cord injury). Severe musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity unrelated to the index injury. Inability or unwillingness to attend follow-up evaluations. Refusal to provide informed consent

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Score

Functional disability and symptoms of the upper extremity assessed using the Turkish version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. The study will evaluate the association between early kinesiophobia levels measured within 1-5 days after injury and functional outcomes at 12 weeks following surgically treated hand and forearm injuries.

Time frame: 12 weeks after injury

Secondary Outcomes

Hand Grip Strength

Grip strength of the injured hand measured using a standard hand dynamometer. Three measurements will be obtained and the mean value will be recorded.

Time frame: 12 weeks after injury

Buck-Gramcko Functional Score

Hand function, pain, and range of motion assessed using the Buck-Gramcko scoring system to evaluate intermediate-term functional recovery.

Time frame: 8 weeks after injury

Sollerman Hand Function Test Score

Hand function during activities of daily living assessed using the Sollerman Hand Function Test.

Time frame: 8 weeks after injury

Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) Score

Fear of movement and reinjury assessed using the Turkish version of the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia during the acute post-injury period.

Time frame: Within 1-5 days after injury

Modified Hand Injury Severity Classification (MHISC/MEYCS) Score

Injury severity assessed using the Modified Hand Injury Severity Classification (MEYCS) at the time of initial evaluation.