Published in:
Open Access
01-12-2009 | Research article
Risk factors for operated carpal tunnel syndrome: a multicenter population-based case-control study
Authors:
Stefano Mattioli, Alberto Baldasseroni, Massimo Bovenzi, Stefania Curti, Robin MT Cooke, Giuseppe Campo, Pietro G Barbieri, Rinaldo Ghersi, Marco Broccoli, Maria Pia Cancellieri, Anna Maria Colao, Marco dell'Omo, Pirous Fateh-Moghadam, Flavia Franceschini, Serenella Fucksia, Paolo Galli, Fabriziomaria Gobba, Roberto Lucchini, Anna Mandes, Teresa Marras, Carla Sgarrella, Stefano Borghesi, Mauro Fierro, Francesca Zanardi, Gianpiero Mancini, Francesco S Violante
Published in:
BMC Public Health
|
Issue 1/2009
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Abstract
Background
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.
Methods
Cases (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.
Results
At 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.
Conclusion
This study strongly underlines the relevance of biomechanical exposures in both non-industrial and industrial work as risk factors for surgically treated CTS.