Risk factors for operated carpal tunnel syndrome: a multicenter population-based case-control study.
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.
Mattioli
Stefano
S
Occupational Health Service, ASL di Ravenna, Ravenna, Italy. s.mattioli@unibo.it
Baldasseroni
Alberto
A
Bovenzi
Massimo
M
Curti
Stefania
S
Cooke
Robin M T
RM
Campo
Giuseppe
G
Barbieri
Pietro G
PG
Ghersi
Rinaldo
R
Broccoli
Marco
M
Cancellieri
Maria Pia
MP
Colao
Anna Maria
AM
Dell'omo
Marco
M
Fateh-Moghadam
Pirous
P
Franceschini
Flavia
F
Fucksia
Serenella
S
Galli
Paolo
P
Gobba
Fabriziomaria
F
Lucchini
Roberto
R
Mandes
Anna
A
Marras
Teresa
T
Sgarrella
Carla
C
Borghesi
Stefano
S
Fierro
Mauro
M
Zanardi
Francesca
F
Mancini
Gianpiero
G
Violante
Francesco S
FS
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