• I C Ikem, R T Ikem, M O B Olaogun, A Owoyemi, and B A Ola.
• Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. icikem@yahoo.com
• W Indian Med J. 2009 Dec 1; 58 (6): 506-11.

ObjectiveThis study is designed to further characterize Limited Joint Mobility (LJM) of the hand using quantitative goniometric measurements among Black Africans with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and non-diabetes.MethodsSeventy-six patients with Type 2 diabetes and 63 normal controls matched for age and gender were purposively selected. Visual clinical examination and quantitative goniometric assessment of patients with DM and non-DM controls were done. The LJM was graded using the criteria of Silverstein et al. Glycaemic control and proteinuria were also assessed.ResultsPrevalence of LJM among Type 2 DM patients was 26.3% compared with 4.8% in normal controls. Subjects with LJM within the control group were significantly older than those with LJM within the DM group (p < 0.05). Prayer sign was 11.8% in DM patients compared with 4.8% of control. The flattening sign demonstrated by the inability to flatten their hands on a flat surface was more in patients with DM (10.5%) compared with 4.8% in the control group. Stage II LJM with 18.4% prevalence was the commonest followed by Stage III (7.9%) among patients with DM. Poor glycaemic control was found in 85%, using fasting plasma glucose and 70%, using 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (2 hpp).ConclusionWe conclude that Black Africans with Type 2 DM only have moderately severe cases of LJM.

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