Preplacement nerve testing for carpal tunnel syndrome: is it cost effective?
Is not hiring otherwise-qualified workers who have an abnormal post-offer preplacement (POPP) median nerve test a cost-effective strategy to reduce workers' compensation expenses related to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)? We performed a retrospective dynamic cohort study based on 2150 workers hired at a company between January 1996 and December 2001 and who underwent POPP median nerve testing. Workers were followed until they left the company or until follow-up ended in May 2003.


RESULTS
Thirty-five cases of work-related CTS occurred during follow-up, and 9.13 cases could have been avoided. However, if the company had not hired workers with abnormal POPP nerve test results, it would have suffered a net loss of $357,353.


CONCLUSIONS
Not hiring workers with abnormal POPP nerve tests to reduce costs of work-related CTS is not a cost-effective strategy for employers.
Franzblau
Alfred
A
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. afranz@uich.edu
Werner
Robert A
RA
Yihan
Joanne
J
D000328:Adult; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000191:economics*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003363:Cost Control; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000191:economics*; D016272:Occupational Health; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000191:economics*; D018635:Rescue Work; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000078329:Workforce