title: Lamb boning -- an occupational cause of carpal tunnel syndrome?
abstract: Whether an occupation can cause carpal tunnel syndrome requiring carpal tunnel decompression (CTD) is contentious. We compared the demographics and incidence rates in lamb-freezing workers with the general population who had CTD. In the general population there were 1002 (63%) females and 583 (37%) males, mean age 48 years, and the rate of CTD was 1.36/1000 per annum. In lamb-freezing workers there were 225 males (mean age 38.4 years) and 60 females (mean age 44.6 years); most workers required CTD in their first three seasons. Compared with the general population, the incidence rate ratios in all freezing workers was 16.8; boners, 51.6; meat packers, 22.8; and slaughtermen, 5.4. All groups had a greater rate of CTD than the general population. This study suggests that carpal tunnel syndrome can be directly caused by an occupation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics Dunedin Public Hospital, Otago, New Zealand. mcwyatt@xtra.co.nz
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Gwynne-Jones
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Veale
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005615:Freezing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult