Original article Is there a correlation between patient- reported outcome assessed by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire and total active motion after flexor tendon repair? Paola Errera Magnani, Aline Miranda Ferreira, Eula Katucha da Silva Rodrigues, Rafael Ina ´cio Barbosa, Nilton Mazzer, Vale ´ria Meirelles Carril Elui and Marisa de Ca ´ssia Registro Fonseca Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Locomotive Apparatus Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeira ˜o Preto, University of Sa ˜o Paulo, Ribeira ˜o Preto, SP, Brazil Correspondence: Marisa de Ca ´ssia Registro Fonseca, Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Locomotive Apparatus Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeira ˜o Preto, University of Sa ˜o Paulo, Bandeirantes Av, 3900, Ribeira ˜o Preto, SP CEP 14049-900, Brazil. Email: marisa@fmrp.usp.br Abstract Introduction. Gliding without adhesion is imperative to regain full range of motion after flexor tendon repair. The purpose of this study was to find assessment tools that represent these outcomes and to explore their relationship with hand function. Methods. Ninety-six flexor tendon injuries in 24 patients were assessed at 12 weeks after flexor tendon repair. Total active motion (TAM) and total passive motion (TPM) were recorded with a goniometer. For patient- reported upper extremity function, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire was used. Results. A moderate negative correlation was found between total active motion and DASH score (r ¼ 20.3809 to 20.5815, P , 0.0001). While TAM and TPM improved over the 12-week period, mean values did not reach those of the uninjured hand. Mean DASH scores improved from 46.05 points at four weeksto 23.5 points at 12 weeks. Conclusion. Despite early flexor tendon rehabilitation in this sample, after 12 weeks, some degree of dys- function and loss of active ability for finger flexion still persisted. The DASH appears to be an appropriate outcome tool after flexor tendon repair. The combination of patient-reported questionnaire and measures of impairment such as TAM and TMP give a more comprehensive picture of functional outcome. Keywords: Flexor tendon injuries, DASH, goniometry, hand therapy Introduction Tendon injuries are among the most severe injuries of the upper extremity. These lesions occur almost exclusively in young workers and usually result in disability. The tendon injury typically requires 3–4 months of rehabilitation before return to work. Failure to repair or poor residual function after surgery can reach 20–30% of cases. 1 Assessment instruments and accurate rehabilitation techniques allow surgeons and therapists to identify dysfunctions, analysing the development of a treatment and also providing communication among pro- fessionals. 2,3 Hand therapy is still a young adjunct to surgical repair. So, many technical details of the thera- peutic intervention have yet to be determined. 4 Therefore, rehabilitation regimens through immobiliz- ation or active/passive early motion exercises after tendon repair are chosen mainly by the preferences and obser- vations of surgeons and therapists, according to the suture technique applied, the patient’s ability to actively Hand Therapy 2012; 17: 37–41. DOI: 10.1258/ht.2012.012005 Hand Therapy Vol. 17 No. 2 June 2012 37