[The carpal tunnel syndrome. An occupational disease?]

Abstract

Attention is drawn to early and correct diagnosis of the carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Our case history describes how a 44 year old man contracted bilateral CTS by forceful repetitive bending of plastic frames with both hands. The syndrome is most often referred to as a result of a tenosynovitis involving the flexor tendons which pass beneath the volar carpal ligament often caused by highly repetitive wrist movements together with firm hand and finger grasps. In this case, accurate occupational history and reconstruction of work procedure revealed that the cause was direct external pressure bilaterally at the wrist on the flexor retinaculum with the underlying median nerve.