Role of Biomechanical Factors in Resolution of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Among a Population of Workers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Cardona A ; Hegmann KT ; Kapellusch J ; Merryweather A ; Thiese MS ; Wood E
• Description:
  Objectives: Identify if Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) symptoms vary by measured biomechanical exposures. Methods: A nested prospective cohort within a large, multicenter, 8-year cohort study. The CTS case definition was tingling/numbness in 2+=11 median nerve-served digits plus a nerve conduction study consistent with CTS. Workers were assigned to: (1) low (strain index [SI] less than or equal to 6.1), and (2) high (SI more than 6.1) job groups. Results: Among 1201 workers, 106 had CTS. Those in the high SI group became and remained symptom-free for at least 3 months, faster than the low SI group, adjusted hazard ratio (HR)=2.07 (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.21 to 3.56, P=0.008). Only surgical release trended towards resolving CTS. Light duty had no impact, and job change was associated with delayed symptoms resolution. Conclusions: High biomechanical exposures paradoxically predicted faster improvement in CTS and light duty did not result in symptom resolution. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Environmental Exposure Epidemiology Men Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety Women
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Biomechanics Biomechanics Carpal Tunnel Syndrome CTS Exposure Levels Humans Light Duty Modified Duty Nerve Function Prognosis Statistical Analysis Treatment Workers

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• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement ; Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 8 ; Utah ; Wisconsin
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  340-346
• Volume:
  61
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20055351
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Med 2019 Apr; 61(4):340-346
• Contact Point Address:
  Kurt T. Hegmann, MD, MPH, Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Utah, 391Chipeta Way, Suite C, Salt Lake City, UT 84108
• Email:
  kurt.hegmann@hsc.utah.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• Performing Organization:
  University of Wisconsin
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20020930
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• End Date:
  20100929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:33812008f3145e27a995345d242e85f2cd321ad3537a82169ba1a118fc27c2086060ca3924398c1a81d54e5a8cc8026d6874127cfc3b533b1b44bd2a38894e1b
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/217680/cdc_217680_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 353.80 KB ]