title: Risk factors for operated carpal tunnel syndrome: a multicenter population-based case-control study.
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 > or = 30 kg/m2, sibling history of CTS and coexistence of trigger finger. Being relatively tall (cut-offs based on tertiles: women > or =165 cm; men > or =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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study strongly underlines the relevance of biomechanical exposures in both non-industrial and industrial work as risk factors for surgically treated CTS.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health Service, ASL di Ravenna, Ravenna, Italy. s.mattioli@unibo.it
authors.forename: Stefano
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authors.lastname: Mattioli
authors.forename: Alberto
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authors.lastname: Baldasseroni
authors.forename: Massimo
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authors.lastname: Bovenzi
authors.forename: Stefania
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authors.lastname: Curti
authors.forename: Robin M T
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.forename: Giuseppe
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authors.forename: Pietro G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: Rinaldo
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authors.lastname: Ghersi
authors.forename: Marco
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authors.lastname: Broccoli
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Cancellieri
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Colao
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dell'omo
authors.forename: Pirous
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fateh-Moghadam
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franceschini
authors.forename: Serenella
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authors.lastname: Fucksia
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: Fabriziomaria
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authors.lastname: Gobba
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lucchini
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mandes
authors.forename: Teresa
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authors.lastname: Marras
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sgarrella
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borghesi
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fierro
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zanardi
authors.forename: Gianpiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: Francesco S
authors.initials: FS
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mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004651:Employment / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009313:National Health Programs; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult