Linking Prioritized Occupational Performance in Patients Undergoing Spasticity-Correcting Upper Limb Surgery to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health

BACKGROUND: Spasticity is generally caused by damage to the spinal cord or the areas of the brain that controls movements, which poses significant limitations in occupational tasks. OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to (I) describe prioritized occupational performance problems (POPP) among patients who underwent upper limb spasticity-correcting surgery and map them to the International Classification of Function, Disability, and Health (ICF); (II) assess outcomes postsurgery; (III) assess whether the results are influenced by the diagnosis, gender, and residual muscle function; and (IV) assess correlation between changes in COPM and gains in grasp ability and grip strength. METHODS: In this retrospective study, assessments occurred pre- and postsurgery, including the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), grip strength, and grasp ability. POPP were transformed to prioritized occupational performance goals (POPG) during subsequent rehabilitation. RESULTS: 60 patients with a history of spinal cord injury (SCI) (n = 42; 59%), stroke (n = 25; 34%), traumatic brain injury (TBI) (n = 4; 6%), and reason unknown (n = 1; 1%) were included, with a mean age of 57 (±13) years. Of those, 11 had bilateral surgery, generating 71 COPM forms and 320 POPG. The POPG were mapped to the ICF activity and participation chapter, most often to self-care (n = 131; 41%), domestic life (n = 68; 21%), and mobility (n = 58; 18%). COPM scores were significantly increased postsurgery, irrespective of diagnosis, gender, and muscle function. No clear correlation between COPM improvement and hand function gains was shown. CONCLUSION: Patients who underwent spasticity-correcting upper limb surgery identified difficulties with a wide range of occupational tasks that they considered as important to regain. Treatment-induced gains in occupational performance were significant but had no clear correlation with gains in grasp ability and hand strength. Independent of diagnosis, gender, and residual muscle function, it seems important to address the activity- and participation-specific aspects in the assessment and rehabilitation of patients.