Occupational Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Overview

The authors examined 110 patients suffering from occupational carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) for two to 14 years since theoccupational disease was acknowledged. Women were 59 % of the group. The mean age of the persons was 49.6 ± 7.5 years, themean duration of the risk occupational exposure lasted 19.9 ± 9.3 years. The etiological occupational noxa encountered in theorigin of CTS were repetitive strain injuries of upper extremities in 62% of the group, locally transmitted vibrations on the hands orvibration in combination with work overload played a role in 38%. In the period of control examination 70 per cent of the subjectsretired for age or disability. Disability or partial disability for the occupational disease affected 49 per cent of the subjects. Aftera complex evaluation of subjective complaints, physical neurological examination and EMG it became obvious that only 14 percent of the cohort displayed negative or borderline CTS findings. The other subjects were found to suffer from continued CTS of atleast mild degree. The EMG examination revealed that 70 per cent of the cohort were affected by motoric - sensitive type of thedisorder. Decompression operations were performed on 64 per cent of the individuals. Based on the comparison of subjectivecomplaints, EMG finding and neurological physical examinations it became apparent that in one forth or one third of the subjectsaffected by occupational CTS it is expected that acknowledgement of the occupational disease and personal replacement of theindividuals from the work at risk will follow in further progression of the disease.

Key words:
entrapment neuropathies, carpal tunnel syndrome, occupation, occupational disease