Use of the NESS Handmaster to restore handfunction in tetraplegia: Clinical experiences in ten patients

Abstract

Objective: To explore possible functional effects of the Handmaster in tetraplegia and to determine suitable patients for the system. Patients: Patients with a cervical spinal cord injury between C4 and C6, motor group 0 3. Important selection criteria were a stable clinical situation and the absence of other medical problems and complications. Design: Ten patients were consecutively selected from the in- and outpatient department of a large rehabilitation hospital in The Netherlands. Each patient was fitted with a Handmaster by a qualified therapist and underwent muscle strength and functional training for at least 2 months. Methods: Functional evaluation comprised the performance of a defi..