gms | German Medical Science

Objectives/Interrogation: We present the creation of the Cypriot Tetraplegia Hand Surgery Service, the acceptance in the SCI patients community as well as our results thus far.

Methods: All tetraplegic patients who express an interest for reconstructive procedures are referred and evaluated by authors (1) and (2). Procedures are carried out twice per year, every March and October. More complex cases are referred to the Centre where author (3) works.

The International Classification for Surgery of the Hand In Tetraplegia is used to evaluate patients and identify surgical candidates.

Surgical candidates are evaluated preoperatively with the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and also captured on video performing certain tasks (eating with utensils, holding a bottle etc).

Patients who receive a triceps reconstruction are evaluated with the Motor Research Council Grade, before and after the procedure.

The two major procedures that we perform is the posterior deltoid to triceps transfer using a tendon graft for triceps reconstruction and the ALPHABET procedure for grip reconstruction [1].

Patients following surgery start their rehabilitation immediately with protected active motion.

The patients are evaluated at six months post op again with the COPM and the difference is calculated to record the patient reported outcome.

Results and Conclusions: So far, seven procedures have been carried out on six patients with another two scheduled for October 2018 and two for March 2018 (Table 1 [Tab. 1]).

Of the 21 patients who were seen by our service, 12 were candidates for surgical procedures and 7 either received or are scheduled to receive the procedures.

Patients who received a posterior deltoid to triceps transfer had a significant increase in triceps strength resulting in better wheelchair propulsion.

COPM increase in patients who received a grip reconstruction was on average 6,175.

Tetraplegia Hand Surgery can produce life changing results and should be routinely offered to all tetraplegic patients. International collaborations can enhance patient trust and lead to better outcomes.