Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The study was carried out to evaluate the work-relatedness and the occupational distribution in 147 carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS) cases diagnosed at a university hospital from May 1996 to May 1998.
METHODS
We obtained the information on disease appearance, occupational history including job content and other life style by medical records and telephone interviews.
RESULTS
Of the 147 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, 51 patients(34.7 %) were shown to be work-related. Work-related CTS were most frequent in elementary workers (21 case, 41.2%). The other eases were 15(29.4%) workers in service and shop and market sales, 9(17.6%) workers in craft and related traders, 4(7.8%) workers in skilled agriculture and fishery. Only two workers had claimed to the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance, but no one has been admitted as an occupational CTS yet.
CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that arrangements of surveillance system for adequate control of occupational CTD is neccessity.