title: [Work-related musculoskeletal diseases: experience of INAIL of the Apulia region 1998-2001].
abstract: The insurance recognition of Work related Muscolo Skeletal Disorders (WMSDs) has been introduced in Italy by the sentences of Constitutional Court n. 179/1988 and 208/1988. Afterwards the National Insurance Institute against work injuries (INAIL) tried to make homogeneous, in the different INAIL regional Departments, the diagnostic protocol of the work related illness associated with repetitive manual activities. Since 1998, indeed, a clinical diagnostic protocol has been used in the different departments. This report describes the Work related Muscolo Skeletal Disorders submitted to the Apulian INAIL Regional Direction in the period 1998-2001. Among 84 cases of disease reported to the Regional Direction, 21 were recognised as professional illness, the most part of which in workers employed in services sector and mining activities. The most represented disease was carpal tunnel syndrome and it was more recurrent in men than in women, in which the first symptoms were earlier than in men. The most represented risk factor, both in reported and in recognised cases, was the presence of repetitive working movements of the upper extremities, or the combination of the previous one with other risk factors such as high frequency of working activities, postural risk, strength demand, vibrations, climatic conditions. The development of specific diagnostic criteria, the detailed job analysis and the use of specific questionnaires seem to be the main elements for the WMSDs diagnosis and for the recognition of their professional etiology.
authors.affiliation: INAIL, Sede Provinciale di Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Allamprese
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Attimonelli
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gigante
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Soleo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D004387:Dupuytren Contracture / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010489:Periarthritis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013717:Tenosynovitis / Q000453:epidemiology