Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Case Report

A Case of Primary Osteoarthritis of Both Elbow Joints in a Worker Using Sledge-hammers: Kyeong Yeon Kim, Kyung Han Kim, Jung Wan Koo, Yong Kyu Kim; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2010;22(1):77-84. Published online March 31, 2010; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2010.22.1.77

Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
The incidence of primary osteoarthritis of elbow is very low in individuals without work-related risk factors, and primary osteoarthritis of the elbow is rarely symptomatic. Because it is difficult to prove these conditions are work-related, the patients with work-related elbow osteoarthritis don't tend to be compensated in Korea.
CASE
REPORT: The patient was a 51-year old male, with an occupational history as a sledgehammer user for 23 years. He has been complaining of pain for 3 years. Physical examination of the elbow showed painful end-range motion and the radiographs showed osteophytes and, loose bodies, but relatively-preserved joint spaces, which were typical characteristic of primary osteoarthritis.
CONCLUSION
The authors report on a case of primary osteoarthritis of both elbows that was associated with repetitive high shear force due to long-term use of the sledgehammer.

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