Functional Deficits in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Details

• Personal Author:
  Radwin RG ; Salvi FJ ; Sesto ME
• Description:
  Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a major occupational illness in the US. The Wisconsin Test is a quantitative computer-controlled test battery designed for measuring sensory and psychomotor function. Subjects were recruited from industrial jobs at high-risk for CTS to determine if subtle sensory and motor deficits were observable in a working population. Outcomes were studied for potential use as an injury surveillance instrument. Methods: A total of 208 subjects participated (72 males and 136 females). Participants completed a symptom survey, were given a physical examination, administered nerve conduction tests, and were tested using the Wisconsin Test battery. Results: The greatest functional deficits were observed when nerve conduction findings were positive and were accompanied by either positive symptom survey outcomes or positive physical exam findings. The presence of symptoms alone were not significantly associated with motor deficits and no significant sensory threshold differences were observed among subjects categorized using any single criterion (i.e., nerve conduction, symptom reports, or examination). Conclusions: Measurable and quantifiable sensory and psychomotor deficits were observed in a working industrial population, and were greatest when positive symptoms or physical exam was accompanied by positive nerve conduction test findings. These data show that clinical criteria used in the diagnosis of CTS corresponds with functional psychomotor and sensory impairments measured in these tests. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Cumulative Trauma Disorders Ergonomics Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Nervous System Occupational Health Safety Sense Organs Workplace
• Keywords:
  Arm-injuries Author Keywords: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Carpal-tunnel-syndrome Cumulative-trauma Cumulative-trauma-disorders Functional Test Injuries Injury Surveillance Musculoskeletal-system-disorders Nerve Conduction Test Neuromotor-function Neuromuscular-function Peripheral-nervous-system Psychomotor Test Quantitative-analysis Sensory-disorders Sensory-motor-system Sensory Test Workplace-monitoring Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 5 ; Wisconsin
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  133-140
• Volume:
  44
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20026176
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2003 Aug; 44(2):133-140
• Contact Point Address:
  Robert G. Radwin, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1410 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1608
• Email:
  radwin@engr.wisc.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2003
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities
• Performing Organization:
  University of Wisconsin, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Madison, WI
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19960901
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• End Date:
  20010831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:4ac1a2fdcfee43693eb47035c76834e3ff9d362ad777d58a8cd5c0f867d8218279094cd12fbef3cb86309cb1e93b42f5dbce400305f892d2b25564313672edd2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/197227/cdc_197227_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 109.37 KB ]