Ann Rehabil Med.  2016 Oct;40(5):902-914. 10.5535/arm.2016.40.5.902.

Prevalence and Related Characteristics of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Among Orchardists in the Gyeongsangnam-do Region

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea. yoonch@gnu.ac.kr

Abstract


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence and related characteristics of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in orchardists and to investigate the association between electrodiagnostic severity and physical examinations.
METHODS
Between July 2013 and September 2014, 377 subjects (174 men and 203 women) visited the Gyeongsang National University Hospital's Center for Farmer's Safety and Health. All the subjects underwent electrodiagnostic tests and physical examination, including Phalen's test, Tinel's sign, and Durkan's carpal compression test (CCT). The subjects were classified into 2 groups, the normal group and the CTS group, according to electrodiagnostic test results. To determine the related characteristics of CTS, potential variables, including age, sex, drinking, smoking, body mass index, waist circumference, and total work time, were compared between the 2 groups. The association between electrodiagnostic severity and physical examinations was analyzed.
RESULTS
CTS was diagnosed in 194 subjects based only on electrodiagnostic test results, corresponding to a prevalence of 51.5%. Among the variables, mean age (p=0.001) and total work time (p=0.007) were significantly correlated with CTS. With respect to the physical examinations, low specificities were observed for Tinel's sign, Phalen's test, and Durkan's CCT (38.4%, 36.1%, and 40.9%, respectively) in the subjects aged ≥65 years. In addition, Phalen's test (p=0.003) and Tinel's sign (p=0.032) in men and Durkan's CCT (p=0.047) in women showed statistically significant differences with increasing CTS severity. The odds ratio was 2.066 for Durkan's CCT in women according to the multivariate logistic regression analysis.
CONCLUSION
CTS prevalence among orchardists was high, and Durkan's CCT result was significantly quantitatively correlated with the electrodiagnostic test results. Therefore, Durkan's CCT is another reliable examination method for CTS.

Keyword

Carpal tunnel syndrome; Prevalence; Physical examination; Electrodiagnosis

MeSH Terms

Body Mass Index
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome*
Drinking
Electrodiagnosis
Female
Gyeongsangnam-do*
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Methods
Odds Ratio
Physical Examination
Prevalence*
Smoke
Smoking
Waist Circumference
Smoke

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Distribution of carpal tunnel syndrome severity (%).

  • Fig. 2 Comparison of median nerve conduction latency and physical examination results (right hand). CCT, carpal compression test.


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