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Course of symptoms and median nerve conduction values in workers performing repetitive jobs at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Occup Med (Lond). 2006 Mar; 56(2):115-21.OM

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common occupational disorder associated with repetitive manual work. Little information exists about the possible relation between the variation of biomechanical hand/wrist exposure and the development of symptoms and median nerve conduction values.

AIMS

To investigate the prevalence of CTS in a group of workers exposed to intensive use of the hands and the course of symptoms and median nerve conduction values after a period of reduced exposure to biomechanical risk factors.

METHODS

CTS was assessed in assembly and non-assembly line workers by means of clinical examinations and nerve conduction studies (NCS). Ergonomic analysis was conducted for each assembly line workstation.

RESULTS

Prevalence of CTS was significantly higher in assembly line workers compared to non-assembly line workers but there was a high prevalence of median nerve conduction abnormalities in both groups (60/102 hands and 40/110 hands, respectively). In a sizable proportion of both groups there was no relationship between symptoms and electrodiagnostic findings (45 hands and 48 hands in assembly and non-assembly line workers, respectively). When assembly line workers were re-examined after 2 years following a period of reduced work schedule, a significant proportion reported resolution of symptoms or had reverted to having normal NCS.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, repetitive work was associated with a higher level of CTS and abnormal NCS. These findings appeared to be reversible following a period of less repetitive work. Overall, there was generally poor correlation between symptoms and electrodiagnostic findings.

Authors+Show Affiliations

Bonfiglioli R
Occupational Health Unit, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, via Palagi 9, Bologna 40138, Italy. bonfiglioli@aosp.bo.it
Mattioli S
No affiliation info available
Spagnolo MR
No affiliation info available
Violante FS
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdultBiomechanical PhenomenaCarpal Tunnel SyndromeCumulative Trauma DisordersErgonomicsFemaleHumansMaleMedian NerveMiddle AgedNeural ConductionOccupational DiseasesRisk Factors

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

16371398

Citation

Bonfiglioli, Roberta, et al. "Course of Symptoms and Median Nerve Conduction Values in Workers Performing Repetitive Jobs at Risk for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome." Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England), vol. 56, no. 2, 2006, pp. 115-21.
Bonfiglioli R, Mattioli S, Spagnolo MR, et al. Course of symptoms and median nerve conduction values in workers performing repetitive jobs at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome. Occup Med (Lond). 2006;56(2):115-21.
Bonfiglioli, R., Mattioli, S., Spagnolo, M. R., & Violante, F. S. (2006). Course of symptoms and median nerve conduction values in workers performing repetitive jobs at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome. Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England), 56(2), 115-21.
Bonfiglioli R, et al. Course of Symptoms and Median Nerve Conduction Values in Workers Performing Repetitive Jobs at Risk for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Occup Med (Lond). 2006;56(2):115-21. PubMed PMID: 16371398.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Course of symptoms and median nerve conduction values in workers performing repetitive jobs at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome. AU - Bonfiglioli,Roberta, AU - Mattioli,Stefano, AU - Spagnolo,Maria Rosa, AU - Violante,Francesco Saverio, Y1 - 2005/12/21/ PY - 2005/12/24/pubmed PY - 2006/9/20/medline PY - 2005/12/24/entrez SP - 115 EP - 21 JF - Occupational medicine (Oxford, England) JO - Occup Med (Lond) VL - 56 IS - 2 N2 - BACKGROUND: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common occupational disorder associated with repetitive manual work. Little information exists about the possible relation between the variation of biomechanical hand/wrist exposure and the development of symptoms and median nerve conduction values. AIMS: To investigate the prevalence of CTS in a group of workers exposed to intensive use of the hands and the course of symptoms and median nerve conduction values after a period of reduced exposure to biomechanical risk factors. METHODS: CTS was assessed in assembly and non-assembly line workers by means of clinical examinations and nerve conduction studies (NCS). Ergonomic analysis was conducted for each assembly line workstation. RESULTS: Prevalence of CTS was significantly higher in assembly line workers compared to non-assembly line workers but there was a high prevalence of median nerve conduction abnormalities in both groups (60/102 hands and 40/110 hands, respectively). In a sizable proportion of both groups there was no relationship between symptoms and electrodiagnostic findings (45 hands and 48 hands in assembly and non-assembly line workers, respectively). When assembly line workers were re-examined after 2 years following a period of reduced work schedule, a significant proportion reported resolution of symptoms or had reverted to having normal NCS. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, repetitive work was associated with a higher level of CTS and abnormal NCS. These findings appeared to be reversible following a period of less repetitive work. Overall, there was generally poor correlation between symptoms and electrodiagnostic findings. SN - 0962-7480 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/16371398/Course_of_symptoms_and_median_nerve_conduction_values_in_workers_performing_repetitive_jobs_at_risk_for_carpal_tunnel_syndrome_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -