Clinical evaluation of the Bionic Glove

Objective: Clinical evaluation of the Bionic Glove, a prototype of a new fu nctional electrical stimulation device designed to improve the function of the paralyzed hand after spinal cord injury. Patients: Twelve people with spinal cord injury at C5-C7 who had used the d evice 6 months or more. Setting: Measurements were made at the Institute "Dr Miroslav Zotovic" in B elgrade as a part of a multicenter clinical trial. Methods: Measures include Upper Extremity Function Test, Functional Indepen dence Measure, and Quadriplegia Index of Function. Results: The daily use of a Bionic Glove had two major effects: (I) increas ing the power grasp; and (2) increasing the range of movements. Active forc e was significantly greater than passive tenodesis force, as shown in other studies. Most manual tasks improved significantly with the use of the assi stive system, as judged by the time needed to complete a task or the subjec t's qualitative ratings of a task difficulty. Most subjects who retained so me dexterity without the assistive system hesitated to use the assistive sy stem to manipulate small objects. Conclusion: The Bionic Glove can significantly improve independence in peop le with C5-C7 spinal cord injury if their initial Functional Independence M easure and Quadriplegia Index of Function scores are 20% to 50% of the maxi mum values. (C) 1999 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine an d the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.