A disorder causing chronic pain can affect the use of an upper extremity. The degree of impairment depends on whether the extremity involved is dominant or not and by how much function is affected.
Examples of chronic pain disorders affecting upper extremity function:
(1) reflex sympathetic dystrophy
(2) causalgia
Functional parameters:
(1) digital dexterity
(2) ability to grasp and hold things
(3) use of the extremity for activities of daily living
Digital Dexterity |
Grasp or Hold |
Activities of Daily Living |
Grade |
normal |
normal |
normal |
0 |
difficult |
able |
able |
1 |
none |
difficult |
able |
2 |
none |
unable |
difficult |
3 |
none |
unable |
unable |
4 |
Grade |
Whole Person Impairment if Dominant Extremity |
Whole Person Impairment if Nondominant Extremity |
0 |
0% |
0% |
1 |
1-9% |
1-4% |
2 |
10-24% |
5-14% |
3 |
25-39% |
15-29% |
4 |
40-60% |
30-45% |
Specialty: Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, Neurology
ICD-10: ,