Prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and carpal tunnel syndrome among dental hygienists

2002 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 248-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Anton ◽  
John Rosecrance ◽  
Linda Merlino ◽  
Thomas Cook
Keyword(s):  
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Carpal Tunnel ◽  
Musculoskeletal Symptoms ◽  
Dental Hygienists ◽  
Tunnel Syndrome

scholarly journals Anastrozole-Induced Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Results From the International Breast Cancer Intervention Study II Prevention Trial

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Spagnolo ◽  
Ivana Sestak ◽  
Anthony Howell ◽  
John F. Forbes ◽  
Jack Cuzick
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Carpal Tunnel ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Intervention Study ◽  
Musculoskeletal Symptoms ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Cancer Intervention

Purpose Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) occurs when the median nerve is compressed at the wrist in the carpal tunnel. It has been suggested that hormonal risk factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of CTS, and a higher incidence of CTS has been reported in randomized clinical trials with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) compared with tamoxifen. Patients and Methods This was an exploratory analysis of the International Breast Cancer Intervention Study II, a double-blind randomized clinical trial in which women at increased risk of breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive anastrozole or placebo. This is the first report of risk factors for and characteristics of CTS in women taking an AI in a placebo-controlled trial. Results Overall, 96 participants with CTS were observed: 65 (3.4%) in the anastrozole arm and 31 (1.6%) in the placebo arm (odds ratio, 2.16 [1.40 to 3.33]; P < .001). Ten participants were reported as having severe CTS, of which eight were taking anastrozole (P = .08). Eighteen women (0.9%) in the anastrozole arm and six women (0.3%) in the placebo arm reported surgical intervention, which was significantly different (odds ratio, 3.06 [1.21 to 7.72], P = .018). Six women discontinued with the allocated treatment because of the onset of CTS. Apart from treatment allocation, a high body mass index and an a prior report of musculoskeletal symptoms after trial entry were the only other risk factors for CTS identified in these postmenopausal women. Conclusions The use of anastrozole was associated with a higher incidence of CTS but few participants required surgery. Further investigations are warranted into the risk factors and treatment of AI-induced CTS.

Clinical Update: Assessing Maximum Medical Improvement in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

2003 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 4-5
Author(s):  
Christopher R. Brigham ◽  
James B. Talmage
Keyword(s):  
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Carpal Tunnel ◽  
Proper Time ◽  
Carpal Tunnel Release ◽  
Hand Function ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Early Results ◽  
Medical Evaluation ◽  
Nerve Recovery ◽  
Tunnel Syndrome

Abstract Permanent impairment cannot be assessed until the patient is at maximum medical improvement (MMI), but the proper time to test following carpal tunnel release often is not clear. The AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides) states: “Factors affecting nerve recovery in compression lesions include nerve fiber pathology, level of injury, duration of injury, and status of end organs,” but age is not prognostic. The AMA Guides clarifies: “High axonotmesis lesions may take 1 to 2 years for maximum recovery, whereas even lesions at the wrist may take 6 to 9 months for maximal recovery of nerve function.” The authors review 3 studies that followed patients’ long-term recovery of hand function after open carpal tunnel release surgery and found that estimates of MMI ranged from 25 weeks to 24 months (for “significant improvement”) to 18 to 24 months. The authors suggest that if the early results of surgery suggest a patient's improvement in the activities of daily living (ADL) and an examination shows few or no symptoms, the result can be assessed early. If major symptoms and ADL problems persist, the examiner should wait at least 6 to 12 months, until symptoms appear to stop improving. A patient with carpal tunnel syndrome who declines a release can be rated for impairment, and, as appropriate, the physician may wish to make a written note of this in the medical evaluation report.

Clinical Update: Understanding Causation: An Example Using Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 5-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Mark Melhorn
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Carpal Tunnel ◽  
Legal Responsibility ◽  
Medical Evidence ◽  
Anatomic Structure ◽  
Legal Professionals ◽  
Compensation Systems ◽  
Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Four Levels

Abstract Medical evidence is drawn from observation, is multifactorial, and relies on the laws of probability rather than a single cause, but, in law, finding causation between a wrongful act and harm is essential to the attribution of legal responsibility. These different perspectives often result in dissatisfaction for litigants, uncertainty for judges, and friction between health care and legal professionals. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) provides an example: Popular notions suggest that CTS results from occupational arm or hand use, but medical factors range from congenital or acquired anatomic structure, age, sex, and body mass index, and perhaps also involving hormonal disorders, diabetes, pregnancy, and others. The law separately considers two separate components of causation: cause in fact (a cause-and-effect relationship exists) and proximate or legal cause (two events are so closely related that liability can be attached to the first event). Workers’ compensation systems are a genuine, no-fault form of insurance, and evaluators should be aware of the relevant thresholds and legal definitions for the jurisdiction in which they provide an opinion. The AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment contains a large number of specific references and outlines the methodology to evaluate CTS, including both occupational and nonoccupational risk factors and assigning one of four levels of evidence that supports the conclusion.

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