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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Study protocol

The WISTAH hand study: A prospective cohort study of distal upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders

Authors: Arun Garg, Kurt T Hegmann, Jacqueline J Wertsch, Jay Kapellusch, Matthew S Thiese, Donald Bloswick, Andrew Merryweather, Richard Sesek, Gwen Deckow-Schaefer, James Foster, Eric Wood, Richard Kendall, Xiaoming Sheng, Richard Holubkov, the WISTAH Hand Study Team

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Background

Few prospective cohort studies of distal upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders have been performed. Past studies have provided somewhat conflicting evidence for occupational risk factors and have largely reported data without adjustments for many personal and psychosocial factors.

Methods/design

A multi-center prospective cohort study was incepted to quantify risk factors for distal upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders and potentially develop improved methods for analyzing jobs. Disorders to analyze included carpal tunnel syndrome, lateral epicondylalgia, medial epicondylalgia, trigger digit, deQuervain’s stenosing tenosynovitis and other tendinoses. Workers have thus far been enrolled from 17 different employment settings in 3 diverse US states and performed widely varying work. At baseline, workers undergo laptop administered questionnaires, structured interviews, two standardized physical examinations and nerve conduction studies to ascertain demographic, medical history, psychosocial factors and current musculoskeletal disorders. All workers’ jobs are individually measured for physical factors and are videotaped. Workers are followed monthly for the development of musculoskeletal disorders. Repeat nerve conduction studies are performed for those with symptoms of tingling and numbness in the prior six months. Changes in jobs necessitate re-measure and re-videotaping of job physical factors. Case definitions have been established. Point prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome is a combination of paraesthesias in at least two median nerve-served digits plus an abnormal nerve conduction study at baseline. The lifetime cumulative incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome will also include those with a past history of carpal tunnel syndrome. Incident cases will exclude those with either a past history or prevalent cases at baseline. Statistical methods planned include survival analyses and logistic regression.

Discussion

A prospective cohort study of distal upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders is underway and has successfully enrolled over 1,000 workers to date.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
The WISTAH hand study: A prospective cohort study of distal upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders
Authors
Arun Garg
Kurt T Hegmann
Jacqueline J Wertsch
Jay Kapellusch
Matthew S Thiese
Donald Bloswick
Andrew Merryweather
Richard Sesek
Gwen Deckow-Schaefer
James Foster
Eric Wood
Richard Kendall
Xiaoming Sheng
Richard Holubkov
the WISTAH Hand Study Team
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-13-90

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