Early predictors of chronic work disability associated with carpal tunnel syndrome: a longitudinal workers' compensation cohort study

Aim of the study To evaluate the connection between the type of patient insurance and the time taken to return to work after carpal tunnel surgery. Patients and methods Two hundred and thirty-three patients in full-time work were operated on for carpal tunnel syndrome between 1 January and 30 June 1998. They were divided into three groups: independent workers ( n=87), wage earners in the private sector ( n=90) and civil servants ( n=56). Four categories were defined: manual workers, non-manual workers, patients with social security insurance and patients with workers compensation. The average return-to-work interval after surgery for each of the groups was evaluated and compared group by group. Results For independent workers the average time off work is 17 days, for those in the private sector it is 35 days, and for civil servants it is 56 days. Patients with social security insurance were off work for 32 days and those with workers compensation for 49 days. Discussion The comparison shows significant differences with regard to social security insurance: the return-to-work interval in civil servants is larger than for private sector workers, and this is higher than in independent workers. The difference between patients with workers compensation and those with social security insurance is 17 days and significant. There is a significant difference between manual and non-manual workers in independent and private sector workers. There is no significant difference between the sub-groups in the civil servants. These cross references enable us to work out the influence that social security status has on the return-to-work time following surgery.

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Prevalence and predictors of long-term work disability due to carpal tunnel syndrome

American Journal of Industrial Medicine ◽

10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199806)33:6<543::aid-ajim4>3.0.co;2-r ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (6) ◽

pp. 543-550 ◽

Cited By ~ 68

Author(s):

Jeffrey N. Katz ◽

Robert A. Lew ◽

Louis Bessette ◽

Laura Punnett ◽

Anne H. Fossel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽

Carpal Tunnel ◽

Work Disability ◽

Tunnel Syndrome

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Movements of the wrist and the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome: a nationwide cohort study using objective exposure measurements

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oemed-2018-105619 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 76 (8) ◽

pp. 519-526 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Christina Bach Lund ◽

Sigurd Mikkelsen ◽

Lau Caspar Thygesen ◽

Gert-Åke Hansson ◽

Jane Frølund Thomsen

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽

Angular Velocity ◽

Carpal Tunnel ◽

Exposure Level ◽

Office Work ◽

Mean Power ◽

Exposure Response ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Tunnel Syndrome

ObjectivesWe conducted a large cohort study to investigate the association between work-related wrist movements and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).MethodsElectro-goniometric measurements of wrist movements were performed for 30 jobs (eg, office work, child care, laundry work and slaughterhouse work). We measured wrist angular velocity, mean power frequency (MPF) and range of motion (ROM). We established a cohort of Danish citizens born 1940–1979 who held one of these jobs from age 18–80 years, using Danish national registers with annual employment information from 1992 to 2014. We updated the cohort by calendar year with job-specific and sex-specific means of measured exposures. Dates of a first diagnosis or operation because of CTS were retrieved from the Danish National Patient Register. The risk of CTS by quintiles of preceding exposure levels was assessed by adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRadj) using Poisson regression models.ResultsWe found a clear exposure–response association between wrist angular velocity and CTS with an IRRadj of 2.31 (95% CI 2.09 to 2.56) when exposed to the highest level compared with the lowest. MPF also showed an exposure–response pattern, although less clear, with an IRRadj of 1.83 (1.68 to 1.98) for the highest compared with the lowest exposure level. ROM showed no clear pattern. Exposure–response patterns were different for men and women.ConclusionsHigh levels of wrist movement were associated with an increased risk of CTS. Preventive strategies should be aimed at jobs with high levels of wrist movements such as cleaning, laundry work and slaughterhouse work.

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