Concurrent musculoskeletal complaints in elbows, shoulders, and necks after common hand and forearm injuries or conditions: A cross-sectional study among 600 patients

Study design: This is a cross-sectional study among 600 patients. Introduction: Isolated hand and forearm injuries or conditions are common in the emergency and orthopedic departments. So far, little is known about whether these patients suffer from concurrent musculoskeletal complaints (MSCs) besides their hand and forearm complaints. Neglecting concurrent MSCs in the upper limbs and necks could hamper rehabilitation and prolong the time taken to return to daily and work-related activities. Purpose of the study: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of concurrent MSCs in the elbow, shoulder, and neck after common hand and/or forearm injuries or conditions. Methods: This study included 600 patients with any type of diagnosis referred to rehabilitation after hand and/or forearm injuries or conditions. Basic characteristics, diagnoses, and location of patients' symptoms were collected and analyzed. Results: The overall prevalence of concurrent MSCs was 40%. Twenty-eight percent of the whole sample developed concurrent MSCs after the hand and forearm injury or condition. The gender distribution was 68% women and 32% men. The most common location for complaints was the shoulder (62%), followed by the elbow (49%), and the neck (32%). Discussion: The present results suggest that MSCs from the elbows, shoulders, or necks are very common in patients with hand and/or forearm injuries or conditions. Conclusion: Clinicians treating patients with isolated hand and forearm injuries or conditions should be aware of the high prevalence of concurrent MSCs. Future research should investigate if specific rehabilitation, focusing on concurrent MSCs, may influence the outcome in this population.