Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35666312›Full record

Observational studyArchives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery2023

Visualization of the location and level of pain in common wrist pathologies using color-coded heatmaps.

Nicholas Moellhoff, Veronika Throner, Konstantin Frank, Ashley Benne, Sonja Adelmann, Michaela Coenen, Riccardo E Giunta, Elisabeth Haas-Lützenberger

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Bilateral ST-coalition with thumb hypoplasia and scaphoid synchondrosis.Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery · 2024
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Nicholas MoellhoffDivision of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 5, 80336, Munich, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1059-5840
Veronika ThronerDepartment of Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology (IBE), Chair for Public Health and Health Services Research, Research Unit for Biopsychosocial Health, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Konstantin FrankDivision of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 5, 80336, Munich, Germany.
Ashley BenneDivision of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 5, 80336, Munich, Germany.
Sonja AdelmannDivision of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 5, 80336, Munich, Germany.
Michaela CoenenDepartment of Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology (IBE), Chair for Public Health and Health Services Research, Research Unit for Biopsychosocial Health, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Riccardo E GiuntaDivision of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 5, 80336, Munich, Germany.
Elisabeth Haas-LützenbergerDivision of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 5, 80336, Munich, Germany. elisabeth.haas@med.uni-muenchen.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPain of the hand and wrist affects a large patient population. If the onset is unrelated to recent trauma, the first medical contact is rarely established with a specialized hand surgeon.

objectiveThe objective of this investigation was to (1) visualize the localization of hand pain using pain-related heatmaps in common wrist pathologies, (2) to test whether differences between these pathologies exist with regard to sociodemographic and pain-related aspects, and (3) to evaluate the major patient-reported complaints associated with the pathologies.

methodsThis observational cross-sectional study included patients suffering from: thumb basal joint arthritis (CMC-1-OA), dorsal wrist ganglions, and TFCC tears. Patients marked the location of maximum pain projection on hand graphics depicting the outline of the palmar and dorsal hand. Color-graded frequency heat maps were generated for the wrist pathologies investigated. Daily life impairments were assessed and clustered into groups of functions/activities.

results120 patients with a mean age of 44.3 years were investigated. The diagnostic groups showed significant differences regarding the level and location of pain, as well as daily life impairments. Patients with CMC-1-OA presented with increased pain levels compared to patients with dorsal wrist ganglions and TFCC tears. Daily life impairment was rated highest when household chores were adversely affected, and sport activities were symptomatic/painful. All groups showed significant skin surface pain projection, which was visualized in heatmaps. While general trends in pain localization were visible, pain levels were also reported distal/proximal and palmar/dorsal to the pathology.

conclusionsKnowledge of main demographic parameters, pain projection, and degree of impairment in daily activities can help physicians to narrow differential diagnosis of wrist pain during first patient contact. Patients should then be referred to hand surgeons for specialist examination, to further differentiate the origin of the pain.

Indexed as

Ganglion CystsTriangular FibrocartilageWrist InjuriesAdultArthralgiaHumansPainWristWrist JointCMC-1-OsteoarthritisGanglionHand surgeryTFCC tearTrauma surgeryWrist pain

Identifiers

PMID35666312
PMCPMC9925519

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.