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Updated: Mar 10, 2026
Screening of Axonal Degeneration in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Using Ultrasonography and Nerve Conduction Studies
Published on: January 11, 2019
Postoffer Pre-Placement Screening for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Newly Hired Manufacturing Workers
Ann Marie Dale1, Bethany T Gardner, Skye Buckner-Petty
1Division of General Medical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
Objective:
We determined the predictive validity of a postoffer pre-placement (POPP) screen using nerve conduction velocity studies (NCV) to identify future cases of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
Methods:
A cohort of 1648 newly hired manufacturing production workers underwent baseline NCS, and were followed for 5 years.
Results:
There was no association between abnormal POPP NCV results and incident CTS. Varying NCV diagnostic cut-offs did not improve predictive validity. Workers in jobs with high hand/wrist exposure showed greater risk of CTS than those in low exposed jobs (relative risk 2.82; 95% confidence interval 1.52 to 5.22).
Conclusions:
POPP screening seems ineffective as a preventive strategy for CTS.
