Comparison of ARPE Prosthesis With the Literature

Grip strength is an indicator of muscle health in the hands and forearms and is measured with a hand-held dynamometer. The patients squeeze the dynamometer with all of their strength and the force applied is measured.

Key pinch strength is an indicator of muscle health and measures the precision grip by using a pinch dynamometer. The device is placed between the radial side of the index finger and thumb and the force applied while the patients pinch as hard as possible is measured.

Tip pinch strength is an indicator of muscle health and measures the precision grip by using a pinch dynamometer. The device is placed between the tip of the index finger and thumb and the force applied while the patients pinch as hard as possible is measured.

Pain level is collected with VAS (Visual Analog Scale): the patients are asked to mark their current pain level on a horizontal line containing values ranging from 0 (no pain) to 100 (very severe pain).

The range of motion (ROM) is the extent of movement of a joint and indicates the range through which the joint can be moved. ROM in radial abduction is measured while the patients move the thumb in parallel to the palm.

The range of motion (ROM) is the extent of movement of a joint and indicates the range through which the joint can be moved. The ROM in palmar abduction is measured while the patients move the thumb perpendicularly to the palm.

EQ-5D is a standardized instrument for measuring the health-related quality of life, which assesses health status in terms of five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. Each question has five levels of response (no problems, slight problems, moderate problems, severe problems, extreme problems/unable to), which are singularly rated and then combined into a health status score. The health status score ranges from less than 0 (where 0 is the value of a health state equivalent to dead; negative values representing values as worse than dead) to 1 (the value of full health), with higher scores indicating higher health utility.

The second part of the EQ-5D questionnaire consists of a visual analogue scale (VAS) on which the patient rates his/her perceived health from 0 (the worst imaginable health) to 100 (the best imaginable health).

Radiolucency lines are radiolucent gaps visible in the radiographic images between the prosthesis and the bone, which presence is commonly associated with early failure of the implantation, eventually leading to the loosening of the prosthesis. Every radiography taken at each follow-up time point was assessed to evaluate whether there are visible radiolucency lines around the implanted prosthesis and the number of implants with visible radiolucency lines is here reported.

The DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) Questionnaire outcome measure is a 30-item, self-report questionnaire designed to assess the patients' health status during the previous week by asking to rate their ability to perform various daily activities. The questions are grouped in 3 categories: disability, work and sport, of which work and sport are optional.

The score ranges from 0 (no disability) to 100 (most severe disability), with higher scores indicating a greater level of disability and severity, whereas lower scores indicate a lower level of disability.

The DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) Questionnaire outcome measure is a 30-item, self-report questionnaire designed to assess the patients' health status during the previous week by asking to rate their ability to perform various daily activities. The questions are grouped in 3 categories: disability, work and sport, of which work and sport are optional.

The score ranges from 0 (no disability) to 100 (most severe disability), with higher scores indicating a greater level of disability and severity, whereas lower scores indicate a lower level of disability.

The DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) Questionnaire outcome measure is a 30-item, self-report questionnaire designed to assess the patients' health status during the previous week by asking to rate their ability to perform various daily activities. The questions are grouped in 3 categories: disability, work and sport, of which work and sport are optional.

The score ranges from 0 (no disability) to 100 (most severe disability), with higher scores indicating a greater level of disability and severity, whereas lower scores indicate a lower level of disability.