Assessment of Sensibility after Nerve Injury and Repair: A Systematic Review of Evidence for Validity, Reliability and Responsiveness of Tests

Abstract

Recovery of sensibility after peripheral nerve injury and repair needs to be assessed using psychometrically robust measures. In this study the literature was reviewed to identify what tests are available to quantify sensibility and to assess their validity, reliability and responsiveness. The databases Medline, CINAHL, Embase and AMED were searched for studies reporting the psychometric properties of sensibility tests. While there is a plethora of tests and studies reporting the outcomes after peripheral nerve suture only a few of the tests have evidence of validity, reliability and responsiveness. Currently the touch threshold test using monofilaments such as the Weinstein Enhanced Sensory Test (WEST) or Semmes–Weinstein Monofilament Test (SWMT) and the shape–texture identification (STI™) test for tactile gnosis are the only tests which meet criteria for a standardized test and have had their psychometric properties evaluated and quantified.