Nerve Injury in the Hand, an Interview Study

Patients´ Experiences of Changed Physical Activity Level Following Nerve Injury in the Upper Limb- a Qualitative Study

This qualitative study sought to explore the exerience of change in physical activity due to nerve injury in the arm and hand.

Aim:

Has the physical activity level changed in connection with the nerve injury. Experiences of factors influensing this change.

Population: Patients surgically treated for digital,median,ulnar-or plexus nerveinjuries at Södersjukhuset or Universitets sjukhuset in Linköping. 1-3 years ago. Age 18-75.

Method: Interviews are carried out over the phone, digitally recorded and trascribed. The analysis is inductive approach.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Injury to the median, ulnar or digital nerve or injury to the brachial plexus.
• 1-5 years post injury.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe psychiatric disease.
• Drug or alcohol abuse.
• Insufficient language understanding.
• Severe diabetes mellitus with nerve complications.