Prevalence and risk factors for upper extremity entrapment neuropathies in polio survivors.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the electrophysiological prevalence and associated risk factors of upper extremity entrapment neuropathies in a cohort of Taiwanese patients with prior paralytic poliomyelitis.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study involving a consecutive series of patients.


METHODS
Ninety-seven polio survivors.


METHODS
Demographic factors, medical and work history were recorded. Symptoms and functional deficits of the hand, mobility impairment level, physical activity level and manual muscle testing were assessed, and nerve conduction studies were performed.


RESULTS
The electrophysiological prevalence of nerve entrapment among the polio survivors was 80%. The most common electrodiagnostic dysfunction was median neuropathy at the wrist (62%), followed by ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (41%) and ulnar neuropathy at the wrist (38%). In multiple logistic regression, subjects who reported that their jobs involved repetitive hand movements, had a body mass index greater than 24 kg/m2, or used a cane/crutch were at increased risk of both median neuropathy at the wrist and ulnar neuropathy at the wrist. Subjects who used a wheelchair were also at increased risk of ulnar neuropathy at the wrist.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate a high occurrence of upper extremity entrapment neuropathies in polio survivors. The documentation of risk factors in this study provides support for screening of at-risk subjects.
Tsai
Hung-Chih
HC
Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Cheng Hsin Rehabilitation Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hung
Tai-Ho
TH
Chen
Chien-Cheng
CC
Lieu
Fu-Kong
FK
Cho
Hsin
H
Tung
Tao-Hsin
TH
Chen
Szu-Fu
SF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D016262:Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D017769:Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology