The Reliability and Concurrent Validity of the Figure-of-Eight Method of Measuring Hand Edema in Patients with Burns

Abstract

The figure-of-eight technique is a reliable and valid measurement tool for measuring hand edema. This technique is a more clinically feasible tool than water volumetry in the burn patient population.

Reliability and validity of the figure-of-eight method of measuring hand size in patients with breast cancer-related lymphoedema

“…Similarly, like the present study, the studies by Dewey et al . () and Leard et al . () focused on subjects with hand swelling.…”

“…() and Dewey et al . () carried out their studies with participants who had hand pathology. The participants in Leard's study were described as either post‐surgical intervention or with carpal tunnel syndrome and the participants in Dewey's study were patients with hand swelling following burns.…”

“…These were carried out using the technique described in Dewey et al . (). The subject's arm was supported on a table with the forearm in pronation, the wrist in neutral and the fingers rested in adduction.…”

“…; Dewey et al . ). This involves a simple measuring tape, which is passed across the hand and wrist, in a figure‐of‐eight configuration, at specified points, particularly areas of the hand such as the dorsum where swelling is known to accumulate (Maihafer et al .…”

“…) and for hand swelling associated with burns (Dewey et al . ). The figure‐of‐eight method has the potential to be a useful way of measuring hand swelling in patients with BCRL; however, the reliability and validity of this simple clinical measurement have not been established in this group.…”