Hand grip strength: an indicator of nutritional state and the mix of postoperative complications in patients with oral and maxillofacial cancers

The aim of the study was to assess the reliability of hand grip strength as an indicator of nutritional state, and to see if it was of any value in the prediction of postoperative complications. One-hundred and twenty-seven patients who presented with oral and maxillofacial cancer were studied for measurement of hand grip strength, mid-arm muscle circumference, and creatinine-height index. Hand grip strength correlated well with mid-arm muscle circumference and creatinine-height index. Patients whose hand grip strength was <85% of the control value developed significantly more postoperative complications than those in whom it was 85% or more (15/31 (48%) compared with 12/65 (18%), P=0.004). In conclusion, hand grip strength is not only a useful, non-invasive indicator of skeletal muscle mass, but may also be of use in predicting postoperative complications.