Repetitive motion hand disorders

The clinical management of cumulative trauma disorder is based upon the identification and treatment of individual component pathologies and, frequently, referral to a knowledgeable occupational therapist with an understanding of ergonomic behavioral, postural, and workspace modification. Most commonly these individual pathologic entities are carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, and De Quervain's tenosynovitis. In this article, the anatomy, diagnosis, and treatment of each of these disorders will be considered separately. In addition, since these clinical entities are often use-related, special attention should be directed toward biomechanical and ergonomic considerations.