Normative data for the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation questionnaire.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: The Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) questionnaire is used to evaluate functional outcomes after treatment of wrist and hand injuries and nontraumatic conditions. Since patients commonly present with an injury, it is impossible to assess preinjury physical functioning. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the population-based normative data.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to determine the normative data for the PRWE questionnaire. Secondary, we aimed to determine if there were factors influencing these normative data.

METHODS: Visitors and employees of 4 hospitals were requested to participate. Excluded were all participants who were scheduled for surgery or were in treatment or after treatment for an injury of the wrist or hand within 1 year after trauma. All participants were asked to complete the PRWE questionnaire and were asked for their age, sex, history of wrist or hand fracture or surgery, daily activities, and the type of employment. The socioeconomic status was determined based on the zip code.

RESULTS: The median PRWE score was 0 (interquartile range: 0-8.5) and the mean score 7.7 (standard deviation: 15.0). Women had significantly higher scores compared to men, and younger individuals had significantly lower scores. Participants with a history of wrist or hand fracture or surgery, and participants who were unfit for work had significantly higher scores. Socioeconomic status was not correlated with the PRWE score.

DISCUSSION: The purpose was to provide an representative overview of the normative data for the normal population. We did not want to present the data of an unnatural healthy population, which is not representative of the normal population. Deleting patients with chronic wrist or hand complaints, would have resulted in normative values which are not representable for the normal, average population.

CONCLUSION: Low scores are observed for the PRWE in the general population. These scores are age and sex dependent and are higher in individuals with a history of wrist or hand fracture or surgery or who are unfit for work.