Table 3.
Reliability for hand assessment variables (summarised from assessments at multiple sites)
| Inter-observer reliability (n = 55) | Intra-observer reliability (n = 54) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agr % Median (range) | Kappa Median (range) | Agr % Median (range) | Kappa Median (range) | |
| Upper limb function1 | 89.1 (80.0, 100.0) | 0.65 (0.00, 0.91) | 91.6 (79.6, 100) | 0.69 (0.00, 0.94) |
| Pain/tenderness2 | 94.5 (78.2, 100.0) | 0.64 (0.22, 1.00) | 96.3 (85.2, 100.0) | 0.69 (-0.02, 1.00) |
| Deformity3 | 91.8 (54.5, 100.0) | 0.51 (-0.03, 1.00) | 96.3 (85.2, 100.0) | 0.69 (-0.02, 1.00) |
| Thumb opposition*4 | 98.2 (72.7, 100.0) | 0.51 (0.00, 1.00) | 98.1 (81.1, 100.0) | 0.19 (0.00, 1.00) |
| Any bony change^3 | 81.8 (63.6, 98.2) | 0.43 (0.00, 0.72) | 83.3 (63.0, 100.0) | 0.47 (0.00, 0.79) |
| Muscle wasting5 | 80.0 (72.7, 85.5) | 0.28 (0.00, 0.38) | 88.9 (81.5, 98.1) | 0.29 (0.00, 0.65) |
| Bony enlargement3 | 81.8 (60.0, 98.2) | 0.20 (-0.10, 0.68) | 84.3 (61.1, 100.0) | 0.30 (-0.03, 0.66) |
| Sensation6 | 61.8 (47.3, 70.9) | 0.18 (0.04, 0.38) | 76.9 (61.1, 85.2) | 0.31 (0.07, 0.68) |
| Pain on resisted movement7 | 68.2 (61.8, 72.7) | 0.16 (0.02, 0.23) | 82.4 (74.5, 85.2) | 0.31 (0.22, 0.50) |
| Nodes3 | 98.2 (65.5, 100.0) | 0.00 (-0.07, 0.69) | 96.3 (68.5, 100.0) | 0.24 (-0.05, 1.00) |
| Swelling2 | 98.2 (85.5, 100.0) | 0.00 (-0.03, 0.66) | 99.1 (87.0, 100.0) | 0.00 (-0.07, 1.00) |
Abbreviations: Agr % = observed percentage agreement. *Calculated on 53 cases for intra observer reliability; ^any bony change is defined as bony enlargement or nodes. 1Comprising seven movements per upper limb, adapted from Doherty et al., (1992); 2Nineteen joints/areas per hand; 3Sixteen joints/areas per hand; 4Kapandji (1992); 5Four areas per hand; 6Semmes-Weinstein™ monofilaments used to assess median, radial and ulna nerve areas; 7wrist flexion/extension and thumb flexion/extension.