Duruöz Hand Index in Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy

NCT07151053 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 83045809-604.01.02-
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 21
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP) arises from perinatal injury to the brachial plexus, resulting in varying degrees of motor and sensory impairment in the upper extremity. While existing assessment instruments primarily target unilateral limb function, they frequently overlook bimanual capabilities, which are essential for functional independence. This study aims to investigate the utility of the Duruöz Hand Index (DHI) as a reliable, valid, and practical instrument for evaluating functional limitations in individuals with OBPP. A cohort of 21 pediatric patients (aged 6-18 years) with OBPP was recruited from a tertiary university hospital in Turkey. Functional assessment included grip and pinch strength, range of motion, and upper extremity performance, measured using the Modified Mallet Classification, Brachial Plexus Outcome Measure (BPOM), Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI), and DHI

Conditions

Obstetric Brachial Plexus Injury

Keywords

Brachial plexus; Duruöz Hand Index

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Validity and reliability

  The primary outcome measure was the Duruöz Hand Index (DHI), which was investigated to determine whether it can adequately capture impairments in bimanual function during daily activities and provide a comprehensive assessment of functional disability in patients with OBPP. To evaluate the validity of the DHI, its correlations with established outcome measures-including the Modified Mallet Classification, Brachial Plexus Outcome Measure (BPOM), Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI), as well as grip and pinch strength and range of motion-were examined. Reliability was assessed through internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha.

  At baseline

Study Arms (1)

Grup 1

The study included twenty-one children aged 6 to 18 years, all diagnosed with OBPP, who were followed up at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient clinic of a tertiary university hospital in Turkey. The exclusion criteria were a history of trauma or surgery affecting the function of the affected extremity (other than OBPP), the presence of systemic diseases that could impair hand function (such as polyneuropathy), and cognitive impairments that could affect comprehension.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 6 Years - 18 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study cohort consisted of patients who were under regular follow-up at our tertiary care hospital and met the inclusion criteria.

You may qualify if:

• Aged 6 to 18 years
• All diagnosed with OBPP who were followed up at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient clinic of a tertiary university hospital in Turkey.

You may not qualify if:

• A history of trauma or surgery affecting the function of the affected extremity (other than OBPP)
• The presence of systemic diseases that could impair hand function (such as polyneuropathy)
• Cognitive impairments that could affect comprehension.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istanbul University- Cerrahpasa

Istanbul, Fatih, 34093, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Misirlioglu TO, Unalan H, Karamehmetoglu SS. Validation of Duruoz Hand Index in patients with tetraplegia. J Hand Ther. 2016 Jul-Sep;29(3):269-74. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2015.10.001. Epub 2015 Oct 22.

  PMID: 26541579 BACKGROUND

• Duruoz MT, Poiraudeau S, Fermanian J, Menkes CJ, Amor B, Dougados M, Revel M. Development and validation of a rheumatoid hand functional disability scale that assesses functional handicap. J Rheumatol. 1996 Jul;23(7):1167-72.

  PMID: 8823687 BACKGROUND

• O'Berry P, Brown M, Phillips L, Evans SH. Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Palsy. Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care. 2017 Jul;47(7):151-155. doi: 10.1016/j.cppeds.2017.06.003. Epub 2017 Jul 12.

  PMID: 28709767 BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Tuğçe Özekli Mısırlıoğlu, Prof., PM&R

  Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE ONLY
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 27, 2025
• First Posted: September 2, 2025
• Study Start: March 5, 2020
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2022
• Study Completion: July 15, 2022
• Last Updated: September 2, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR
• Time Frame: De-identified individual participant data (IPD) and supporting documents will be available starting from the date of publication of the main study results and will remain accessible for 5 years.
• Access Criteria: IPD and supporting information will be accessible to qualified researchers for academic or scientific purposes. Access requests can be submitted via email to the corresponding author, and data will be shared after approval and signing of a data use agreement to ensure confidentiality and ethical use.

Locations

TU (1)