Preliminary evaluation of the reliability and validity of the 3D printed Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-Hand Function Test in individuals with spinal cord injury

OBJECTIVE: The study objectives were to evaluate the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability; and criterion and construct validity of the 3D printed Toronto Rehabilitation Institute -Hand Function Test (3D TRI-HFT) in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Four individuals with subacute and three individuals with chronic SCI. INTERVENTIONS: Reliability and validity of the 3D TRI-HFT was assessed within two interventional studies. OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants performed the 3D TRI-HFT, Graded Redefined Assessment of Strength, Sensibility and Prehension (GRASSP), Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM) at baseline, after 20 and 40 sessions of therapy and at six month follow-up from baseline. 3D TRI-HFT assessments were graded at the time of performance and re-graded from the video recordings for purpose of reliability testing. Validity testing was done by comparing the scores on 3D TRI-HFT with the scores on the GRASSP, and the FIM and SCIM self care sub-scores. RESULTS: The 3D TRI-HFT had high intra-rater and inter-rater reliability in sub-acute and chronic SCI with ICC values exceeding 0.99. Moderate to strong correlations were found between 3D TRI-HFT object manipulation scores and the FIM and SCIM self care sub-scores, with r values in the range of 0.7–0.8. Strong correlations were found between the various components of GRASSP and the 3D TRI-HFT, with r values exceeding 0.9. CONCLUSIONS: The 3D TRI-HFT is a reliable and valid measure to assess unilateral hand gross motor function in individuals with SCI.