JOEM: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Hand-Arm Vibration: A Swedish... (March 2022)-JOEM: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Hand-Arm Vibration: A Swedish... (March 2022)

JOEM: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Hand-Arm Vibration: A Swedish... (March 2022)

Pdf Summary

This study examined the association between hand-arm vibration (HAV) exposure and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) using a case-control design and a job exposure matrix. The study included 4396 cases of CTS and matched controls. Results showed that exposure to HAV increased the risk of CTS, with the highest risk observed in men under 30 years of age. The risk increased with greater mean year exposure above 2.5 m/s2. The findings highlight the importance of identifying HAV exposure in patients with CTS, particularly in younger men. The study also discussed the clinical significance of the results and the need to consider HAV exposure during clinical consultations for CTS. The use of a job exposure matrix provided a way to study larger numbers of HAV-exposed individuals. However, the study had limitations, such as the use of estimated exposure measures and the inability to adjust for specific ergonomic factors. Overall, the study contributes to the understanding of the association between HAV exposure and CTS and emphasizes the need for further research and preventive measures.

Keywords

hand-arm vibration

HAV exposure

carpal tunnel syndrome

case-control design

job exposure matrix

risk factor

men under 30

mean year exposure

clinical significance

job-related exposure