Abstract
ObjectiveTo describe the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome in a sample of 200 healthy hospital workers, establishing the respective epidemiological associations.Materials and MethodsTwo hundred individuals were submitted to wrist ultrasonography to measure the median nerve area. They were questioned and examined for epidemiological data, body mass index, carpal tunnel syndrome signs and symptoms, and submitted to the Boston carpal tunnel questionnaire (BCTQ) to evaluate the carpal tunnel syndrome severity. A median nerve area ≥ 9 mm2 was considered to be diagnostic of carpal tunnel syndrome.ResultsCarpal tunnel syndrome was diagnosed by ultrasonography in 34% of the sample. It was observed the association of carpal tunnel syndrome with age (p < 0.0001), paresthesia (p < 0.0001), Tinel’s test (p < 0.0001), Phalen’s test (p < 0.0001), BCTQ score (p < 0.0001), and years of formal education (p < 0.0001). Years of formal education was the only variable identified as an independent risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome (95% CI = 1.03 to 1.24).ConclusionThe prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome in a population of hospital workers was of 34%. The number of years of formal education was the only independent risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Highlights
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) results from compression of the median nerve at the level of the carpal tunnel
This study aimed to describe the prevalence of CTS diagnosed by US and to establish its epidemiological associations in 200 healthy volunteers
Diagnosis of CTS by US was performed in 34% of the sample
Summary
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) results from compression of the median nerve at the level of the carpal tunnel. It is the most frequent compressive neuropathy, with prevalence in the general population of 9.2% in women and 6% in men(1). Dade Evangélica do Paraná – Hospital Universitário Evangélico de Curitiba, Curitiba, PR, Brasil. 5. MD, Radiologist, Trainee in Locomotor System Radiology at Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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