Pachydermodactyly from repetitive motion in poultry processing workers: a report of 2 cases

Details

• Personal Author:
  Feldman SR ; Mora DC ; Muñoz-Ali D ; Pichardo-Geisinger RO ; Quandt SA ; Sagransky MJ
• Description:
  BACKGROUND: Pachydermodactyly is a rare, benign, acquired form of digital fibromatosis. The etiology of pachydermodactyly is unknown but is believed to be due to repeated mechanical injury of the skin. We report 2 cases identified in poultry processing workers and review other conditions associated with these cutaneous findings. OBSERVATIONS: The 2 workers in this report were employed as a chicken catcher and a chicken hanger. On examination, both workers had marked lateral thickening of the digits, with associated pain and pruritus. The workers' skin condition developed despite the use of protective gloves, and their symptoms improved when removed from work. However, the swelling due to fibromatosis persisted. CONCLUSIONS: Similar cutaneous findings have been reported in other occupations exposing individuals to repetitive skin trauma, and many patients demonstrating a compulsive habit of hand manipulation. This supports the conclusion that pachydermodactyly in these patients reflects repeated skin trauma. Repetitive mechanical injury in the poultry processing environment can result in considerable compensatory tissue changes. Preventive measures are needed to protect workers. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Animals Case Reports Cumulative Trauma Disorders Food-Processing Industry Food Industry Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Musculoskeletal System Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety Skin Skin Diseases

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• Keywords:
  Case-studies Cumulative-trauma Cumulative-trauma-disorders Dermatology Employee-exposure Extremities Fibrous-bodies Food-processing-workers Hand-injuries Manual-materials-handling Materials-handling Poultry-industry Poultry-workers Repetitive-work Skin-disorders Skin-exposure

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• ISSN:
  0003-987X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  North Carolina ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  148
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20041740
• Citation:
  Arch Dermatol 2012 Aug; 148(8):925-928
• Contact Point Address:
  Sara A. Quandt, PhD, Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157
• Email:
  squandt@wakehealth.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2012
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing
• Performing Organization:
  Wake Forest University Health Sciences - Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20080930
• Source Full Name:
  Archives of Dermatology
• End Date:
  20140929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:266e78e031c265f90a3bbb12d8121f2e636cb3cb4fbde80a929779ee3f4b2497d463ebf38290c43767d579cfa47064e835799820380f836f000ea7d169799b67
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/194220/cdc_194220_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 372.86 KB ]