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. 2016 May;59(5):357-68.
doi: 10.1002/ajim.22564. Epub 2016 Feb 23.

Long-term symptomatic, functional, and work outcomes of carpal tunnel syndrome among construction workers

Bradley Evanoff  1 , Bethany T Gardner  1 , Jaime R Strickland  1 , Skye Buckner-Petty  1 , Alfred Franzblau  2 , Ann Marie Dale  1
Affiliations

Long-term symptomatic, functional, and work outcomes of carpal tunnel syndrome among construction workers

Bradley Evanoff et al. Am J Ind Med. 2016 May.

Abstract

Background: The long-term outcomes of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) including symptoms, functional status, work disability, and economic impact are unknown.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 234 active construction workers with medical claims for CTS and 249 workers without CTS claims; non-cases were matched on age, trade, and insurance eligibility. We conducted telephone interviews with cases and non-cases and collected administrative data on work hours.

Results: Compared to non-cases, CTS cases were more likely to report recurrent hand symptoms, decreased work productivity/quality, decreased performance of physical work demands, and greater functional limitations. Surgical cases showed larger improvements on multiple outcomes than non-surgical cases. Minimal differences in paid work hours were seen between cases and non-cases in the years preceding and following CTS claims.

Conclusions: Persistent symptoms and functional impairments were present several years after CTS diagnosis. Long-term functional limitations shown by this and other studies indicate the need for improved prevention and treatment.

Keywords: administrative data; disability; economic impact; impairment; musculoskeletal disorders.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Evanoff, Dr. Gardner, Ms. Strickland, Mr. Buckner-Petty, Dr. Franzblau and Dr. Dale report a grant from CDC/NIOSH during the conduct of the study. Dr. Franzblau reports personal fees from U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, outside the submitted work.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Change over time in symptoms and functional outcomes among CTS cases treated surgically and non-surgically. FSS - Functional Status Scale; DASH - Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Outcome Measure
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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