title: The prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome in Latino poultry-processing workers and other Latino manual workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in Latino poultry-processing workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Symptoms and nerve conduction studies were used to prospectively assess 287 Latino poultry-processing workers and 226 Latinos in other manual-labor occupations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of CTS was higher in poultry-processing (8.7%) compared with nonpoultry manual workers (4.0%; P < 0.0001). The adjusted odds ratio for the prevalence of CTS in poultry workers was 2.51 (95% confidence interval, 1.80-3.50) compared with nonpoultry workers. Within the poultry workers, those who performed packing, sanitation, and chilling had a trend toward less CTS than those who performed tasks requiring more repetitive and strenuous hand movements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Latino poultry-processing workers have a high prevalence of CTS, which likely results from the repetitive and strenuous nature of the work.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. mcartwri@wakehealth.edu
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cartwright
authors.forename: Francis O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Jill N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Blocker
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Arcury
authors.forename: Joseph G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Grzywacz
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: Haiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Antonio J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Quandt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011202:Poultry Products; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult