Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Duck Soo Kim

4 Articles

Carpal Tunnel Configuration Measured by Ultrasonography as a Risk Factor of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Motor Part Manufacturing Workers: Duck Soo Kim, Hae Kwan Cheong, Hyun Sul Lim, Yong Wook Kwon, Jong Min Lee, Dae Hyun Cho, Dae Seob Choi; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2002;14(3):213-226. Published online September 30, 2002; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2002.14.3.213

OBJECTIVES
This study was conducted to evaluate individual susceptibility to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) by ultrasonographic measurement of the carpal tunnel configuration in workers doing repetitive work.
METHODS
The study subjects consisted of 24 male and 11 female workers in a soundproof material manufacturing company in Gyeongju. We conducted a self-reported questionnaire survey, a physical examination and an electrodiagnostic study (EDS) in April 2000. After the examination, jobs were rearranged for workers with CTS. A follow up physical examination, EDS, and measurement of the carpal tunnel by ultrasonography was done six months later.
RESULTS
Of those studied, prevalence of CTS was 63.6/100 persons among women and 29.2/100 persons among men. Mean depth and width of wrist was shorter in those with CTS compareal to the controls (p<0.05). The risk of CTS was higher in workers whose carpal tunnel ratio (displacement/width) was 0.17 or higher (OR 7.13, 95 % confidence interval 1.18-43.1), and in workers whose carpal tunnel area was less than 300 mm2 (OR 8.00, 95 % confidence interval 1.18-68.5). Carpal tunnel depth and depth/width ratio had a positive correlation with motor latency of the median nerve and median-ulnar sensory latency difference (p<0.05), whereas the carpal tunnel width, displacement/depth ratio, and area (width X displacement) had a negative correlation with median nerve latencies after adjusting for gender. Workers who showed an improvement in the clinical stage of CTS after job rearrangement had a significantly lower carpal tunnel displacement/width ratio and displacement/depth ratio. They also had smaller upper carpal tunnel area ( width X displacement) and larger upper carpal tunnel area [(depth-displacement) X width] than the controls (p< 0.05 ).
CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasonographic measurement of the carpal tunnel is a good predictor of susceptibility and prognosis of CTS in workers doing repetivive work.

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The Health Effect of Hand Arm Transmitted Vibration
Jung-Wan Koo
Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea.2013; 32(4): 303. CrossRef
Changes in the Thickness of Median Nerves Due to Excessive Use of Smartphones
Yeon-Seop Lee, Hoe-Song Yang, Chan-Joo Jeong, Young-Dae Yoo, Gwang-Yun Jeong, Jin-Seon Moon, Min-Kung Kang, Seong-Woo Hong
Journal of Physical Therapy Science.2012; 24(12): 1259. CrossRef

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Wrist Ratio as a Risk Factor of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Duck Soo Kim, Hae Kwan Cheong, Yong Wook Kwon; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2001;13(3):242-252. Published online September 30, 2001; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2001.13.3.242

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the risk factors of the carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and the impact of the wrist ratio on the prevalence of CTS in workers on repetitive work over a long term.
METHODS
Study subjects consisted of 45 male and 16 female workers in a company that produces soundproof material in Gyeongju. We conducted a physical examination, a self-reported questionnaire survey and a nerve conduction study. CTS cases were defined as those subjects that had a positive finding in both the nerve conduction study and the physical examination done by a doctor specializing in rehabilitation medicine.
RESULTS
Prevalence of CTS among the study subjects was 26.2/100 persons. The prevalence of CTS was positively associated with increasing age (p<0.01, using the chi-square test for trend) and female gender (OR=6.98, 95% CI=1.66-31.0), but was negatively associated with the educational level (p<0.01 by the chi-square for trend). Workers in the production area had a higher prevalence of CTS compared to those in the clerical area (OR=10.8 in the frame manufacturing process, OR=32.2 in the vacuum molding process). Patients with CTS had a narrower mean wrist width and a shorter mean hand and palm length, compared to those that had no disease (p<0.01 by the Student's t-test). The number of subjects who had a wrist ratio of 0.74 or more was significantly higher in cases of CTS (OR=4.0, 95% CI=1.01-16.3). However, a multiple logistic regression analysis showed only that the type of work was a significant variable after adjusting for the other variables.
CONCLUSIONS
The wrist ratio, a surrogate of carpal tunnel configuration, can represent individual susceptibility to CTS. However this study shows that the use of the wrist ratio for predicting CTS risk is not adequate. The development of a new carpal tunnel configuration index based on more direct measurements of the tunnel shape will provide a better predictor of individual susceptibility to CTS.

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Distribution of age, gender, and occupation among individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome based on the National Health Insurance data and National Employment Insurance data
Il-Ho Lee, Young-Ki Kim, Dong-Mug Kang, Se-Yeong Kim, In-Ah Kim, Eun-Mi Kim
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2019;[Epub] CrossRef
A comparison of carpal tunnel syndrome between digital and paper textbook users in elementary schools
GyeongAe Seomun, Sung-Bom Pyun, Jung-Ah Lee, Eun-Jung Kim, Wonjung Noh
Work.2016; 53(4): 909. CrossRef
Factors Influencing on Fatigue in Operating Room Nurses
Eun-Seon Lee, In-Sook Kim
Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing.2012; 21(3): 229. CrossRef

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Study on the Pre-employment Lumbo-sacral Simple X-Ray Examination: Hyun Sul Lim, Soo Keun Kim, Duck Soo Kim, Hyeon Kyeong Lee, Dae Seob Choi; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2000;12(2):218-226. Published online June 30, 2000; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2000.12.2.218

Abstract PDF: OBJECTIVES
A study was conducted for investigating the status of simple X-rays on lumbosacral regions at pre-employment health examination and analysing the effectiveness of simple X-rays on lumbosacral regions.
METHODS
The study data were pre-employment health examination data in a university hospital from Jan 3, 1993 through October of 1997. And, 97 newly employed workers who claimed no low back pain at pre-employment health examination of a certain company were follow-up survey about low back pain and related factors in April, 1995 and October of 1997. The data were collected by a self-reported questionnaire and a medical examination with a rehabilitation specialist.
RESULTS
Taking the simple X-rays on lumbo-sacral regions was 1, 591 workers(10.5%) among 15,166 pre-employment health examination from Jan 3, 1993 through October of 1997. And yearly application rates of these X-ray tests have been significantly statistical increasing (p<0.01). 2. The abnormal findings of simple X-rays on lumbo-sacral regions at pre-employment health examination were 40 workers. But, there was not significantly statistical difference between normal and abnormal group for the complaint rate of low back pain. 3. The number of case with symptoms of low back pain at the follow-up survey were 46, so the incidence density was 37. 1 persons/ 100 person-years. And the incidence density was not significantly statistical difference between normal and abnormal group of simple X-rays on lumbo-sacral regions. 4. Through the multivariate logistic regression, significantly associated factors with low back pain were found to be tenure(OR=0.36, 95%CI: 0.17-0.79), lifting of heavy materials(OR=5. 86, 95%CI: l. 58-21. 74).
CONCLUSION
The simple X-rays on lumbo-sacral regions at pre-employment health examination is required further research for utilizing pre-employment health examination according to above results.

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Prevalence and Risk Factors of Occupational Low Back Pain among the Production Workers in a Steel and a Welding Material Manufacturing Factories: Hyun Sul Lim, Soo Keun Kim, Duck Soo Kim, Doohie Kim, Jongmin Lee, Yang Ho Kim; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1999;11(1):52-65. Published online March 31, 1999; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.1999.11.1.52

Abstract PDF

A cross-sectional study was conducted for detecting the risk factors and to propose an effective control program for occupational low back pain. The subjects were 1,665 male production workers employed at a steel factory and a welding material manufacturing factory. The data were collected by a self-reported questionnaire and a medical examination with a rehabilitation specialist for ten days in September, 1997. The contents of the questionnaire were as follows: general characteristics, physical characteristics, employment status, type of work, working environment and the experience of low back pain. The number of cases with symptoms of occupational low back pain were 321, so the point prevalence was 19.3 persons/100 persons. The number of cases with a history of occupational low back pain for one year were 554, so the one year period prevalence was 33.3 persons/100 persons. The point and one year period prevalences of occupational low back pain showed no significant differences in age, marital status, educational level and body mass index. The point and one year period prevalences of occupational low back pain showed no significant differences in alcohol drinking, smoking, stretching exercise and regular exercise. The point and one year period prevalences of occupational low back pain were significantly higher in the unsatisfied group than the satisfied group(p < 0.01), However, no significant differences were found among tenures and shift work. The point and one year period prevalences of occupational low back pain were significantly higher in the lifting of heavy materials group than the nonlifting group(p < 0.01). However, no significant differences were found among posture of the waist and the working posture. Through the multivariate logistic regression, significantly associated factors with occupational low back pain were found to be dissatisfaction with job(point prevalence: OR=1.78, 95% CI: 1.21-2.61; one year prevalence: OR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.26-2.47), lifting of heavy materials(point prevalence: OR=1.94. 95% CI: 1.44-2.61: one year prevalence: OR=2.17, 95% CI: 1.70-2.77) and tenure(point prevalence: OR=1.03. 95% CI: 1.01-1.06: one year prevalence: OR=1.02, 95% CI: 1.00-1.05).

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Incidence and Risk Factors for Occupational Low Back Pain among Seafarer’s
Jae-Ho KIM
JOURNAL OF FISHRIES AND MARINE SCIENCES EDUCATION.2018; 30(4): 1265. CrossRef

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