Table 6 Differences between clinically meaningful subgroups

Overall change following surgery

Worse (n = 6)

Unchanged (n = 9)

Better (n = 45)

Mean

SD

Mean

SD

Mean

SD

Total score

46.7

19.3

43.9

22.2

14.1

17.1

Pain

28.6

22.6

20.1

17.0

9.9

12.9

Symptoms

27.1

13.3

27.1

11.0

8.9

9.9

Specific activities

40.8

28.8

35.6

24.8

10.9

18.8

Usual activities

16.8

4.3

12.6

11.0

5.4

9.4

Hand strength

Both grip and pinch < 80% of opposite hand (n = 8)

Either grip or pinch < 80% of opposite hand (n = 7)

Grip and pinch both > 80% of opposite hand (n = 25)

Mean

SD

Mean

SD

Mean

SD

Total score

33.1

18.6

22.1

17.9

14.8

16.7

Pain

20.8

16.4

16.0

12.9

13.4

9.4

Symptoms

19.0

14.1

13.5

9.4

9.8

9.5

Specific activities

24.8

39.7

20.7

16.0

11.2

18.2

Usual activities

13.2

11.1

9.0

9.0

5.3

7.6

Residual symptoms

Severe

Moderates

Mild occasional

Asymptomatic

Mean

SD

Mean

SD

Mean

SD

Mean

SD

Total score

61.1

29.0

40.4

17.7

17.3

14.5

6.6

16.0

Pain

39.6

24.7

26.9

15.3

10.7

10.7

4.8

10.7

Symptoms

33.8

9.3

23.3

10.8

11.7

9.5

4.3

11.4

Specific activities

54.4

3.4

34.0

25.0

11.7

16.0

5.0

2.6

Usual activities

19.0

9.9

18.2

9.4

4.6

6.8

1.1

2.7