Carpal tunnel syndrome among Minnesota dental hygienists

Because of inherent aspects of clinical practice, dental hygiene practitioners may be at risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). A study was conducted to determine the prevalence of CTS among dental hygienists and its effects on clinical practice. A 33-item questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 493 dental hygienists. A 90% response rate was achieved. Results revealed that 7% of the respondents had been diagnosed as having CTS. However, 63% had experienced one or more symptoms. Six percent reported that CTS had affected their clinical practice in ways such as limiting the number of days practiced, diminishing their hand strength, or forcing them to leave the profession. The findings suggest a need for dental hygienists to obtain information on CTS symptoms to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.