G. Piligian et al., Evaluation and management of chronic work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the distal upper extremity, AM J IND M, 37(1), 2000, pp. 75-93
This clinical review will describe the epidemiology, clinical presentation,
and management of the following work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WM
SDs) of the distal upper extremity: deQuervain's disease, extensor and flex
or forearm tendinitis/tendinosis, lateral and medial epicondylitis, cubital
tunnel syndrome, and hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). These conditions
were selected for review either because they were among the most common WMS
Ds among patients attending the New York State Occupational Health Clinics
(NYSOHC) network, or because there is strong evidence for work-relatedness
in the clinical literature. Work-related carpal tunnel syndrome is discusse
d in an accompanying paper. In an attempt to provide evidence-based treatme
nt recommendations. literature searches on the treatment of each condition
were conducted via Medline for the years 1985-1999. There was a dearth of s
tudies evaluating the efficacy of specific clinical treatments and ergonomi
c interventions for WMSDs. Therefore, many of the treatment recommendations
presented here are based on a consensus of experienced public health-orien
ted occupational medicine physicians from the NYSOHC network after review o
f the pertinent literature. A summary table of the clinical features of the
disorders is presented as a reference resource. Am. J. Ind. Med, 37:75-93,
2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.