Abstract
BackgroundCarpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a socially and economically relevant disease caused by compression or entrapment of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel. This population-based case-control study aims to investigate occupational/non-occupational risk factors for surgically treated CTS.MethodsCases (n = 220) aged 18-65 years were randomly drawn from 13 administrative databases of citizens who were surgically treated with carpal tunnel release during 2001. Controls (n = 356) were randomly sampled from National Health Service registry records and were frequency matched by age-gender-specific CTS hospitalization rates.ResultsAt multivariate analysis, risk factors were blue-collar/housewife status, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, sibling history of CTS and coexistence of trigger finger. Being relatively tall (cut-offs based on tertiles: women ≥165 cm; men ≥175 cm) was associated with lower risk. Blue-collar work was a moderate/strong risk factor in both sexes. Raised risks were apparent for combinations of biomechanical risk factors that included frequent repetitivity and sustained force.ConclusionThis study strongly underlines the relevance of biomechanical exposures in both non-industrial and industrial work as risk factors for surgically treated CTS.
Highlights
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a socially and economically relevant disease caused by compression or entrapment of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel
The sampling frame comprised all residents who during the year 2001 had been admitted to hospital with CTS as the principal diagnosis according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9 code 3540) and who had been submitted to surgical treatment for carpal tunnel release (Diagnosis Related Group [DRG] code 06)
No difference in the distribution of cases and controls was found for age or gender, reflecting the frequency matching
Summary
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a socially and economically relevant disease caused by compression or entrapment of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel. This population-based case-control study aims to investigate occupational/non-occupational risk factors for surgically treated CTS. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a socially and economically relevant disease caused by compression or entrapment of the median nerve within the carpal canal [1]. Analysis of data from the population-based Occupational Supplement of the U.S National Health Interview survey indicated that repetitive bending/twisting of the hands/ wrists and use of vibratory tools are important risk factors for CTS [14,15]. Few population-based case-control studies looking at both non-occupational and occupational risk factors for CTS are available [19,20]
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