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Kapandji Score

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Original Editor - Carina Therese Magtibay

Top Contributors - Carina Therese Magtibay and Alexandra Stead  

Objective

To measure range of thumb opposition.

Intended Population

People with hand and thumb pathologies eg. trauma, arthritis, post-surgical repairs.

Method of Use

Position: Patient is seated with wrist in neutral and the hand is positioned palm up, neutral or slightly supinated.

Instructions and Scoring: [1]

The patient is instructed to move thumb across the palm and touch specific points with the thumb tip. The furthest point actively reached is then documented.

Kapandji Score
Score
0 No movement
1 Radial side of the second phalanx of the index finger
2 Radial side of the middle phalanx of the index finger
3 Tip of the index finger
4 Tip of the middle finger
5 Tip of ring finger
6 Tip of the little finger
7 DIP crease of the little finger
8 PIP crease of the little finger
9 MCJ crease of the little finger
10 Distal palmar crease of the hand




Reference

Evidence

Reliability

The Kapandji Score is a reliable tool in assessing thumb opposition, demonstrating good to excellent inter-rater reliability with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) between 0.772 and 0.917 among patients with carpometacarpal osteoarthritis[2]. Similarly, high reliability is reported for the Modified Kapandji Index in rheumatoid arthritis (ICC 0.90)[3].

Validity

Responsiveness

Miscellaneous

Links

References

  1. ↑ Kapandji A. Clinical test of apposition and counter-apposition of the thumb. Annales de chirurgie de la main: organe officiel des societes de chirurgie de la main. 1986 Jan 1;5(1):67-73.
  2. ↑ Jha B, Ross M, Reeves SW, Couzens GB, Peters SE. Measuring thumb range of motion in first carpometacarpal joint arthritis: the inter-rater reliability of the Kapandji Index versus goniometry. Hand Therapy. 2016 Jun;21(2):45-53.
  3. ↑ Lefevre-Colau MM, Poiraudeau S, Oberlin C, Demaille S, Fermanian J, Rannou F, Revel M. Reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the modified Kapandji index for assessment of functional mobility of the rheumatoid hand. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation. 2003 Jul 1;84(7):1032-8.