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[Carpal tunnel syndrome in shoe hemmers]
Insights
Repetitive hand tasks, like those performed by shoe hemmers, may cause carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition involves a thickened ligament compressing the median nerve at the wrist.
Area of Science:
- Orthopaedics
- Occupational Medicine
- Neurology
Context:
- Study conducted at Porto San Giorgio Hospital (1986-1987).
- Focused on patients with median nerve compression symptoms.
- Investigated working activities and their relation to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Purpose:
- To verify the working activity of patients with median nerve compression.
- To study the pathogenetic relationship between repetitive movements and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Summary:
- 267 patients (201 women, 66 men) were analyzed.
- 67 patients (25% of total) were shoe hemmers, with 33% being female.
- A thickened, fibrous transverse carpal ligament was observed in patients with repetitive hand tasks, likely compressing the median nerve.
Impact:
- Highlights the occupational risks associated with repetitive hand tasks.
- Suggests a link between specific job activities and carpal tunnel syndrome development.
- Provides insights into the pathogenetic mechanism of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Abstract:
The authors verified the working activity of patients observed at the Division of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Porto San Giorgio Hospital between 1986 and 1987 for symptoms of median nerve compression at the wrist. Moreover, the pathogenetic relationship between repetitive movement and carpal tunnel syndrome were also studied. Out of a total of 267 cases, including 201 women and 66 men, 67 worked as shoe hemmers. Twenty-five percent of the total number of patients were shoe hemmers, and 33% of these were females. The Authors observed a thickened and fibrous carpal transverse ligament in these patients who were employed in hand-repetitive tasks. This swollen ligament probably compresses the median nerve at the wrist.