Carpal tunnel syndrome in carpet workers

Objective: Repetitive and forceful use of wrist and finger flexors is purpo rted to be an occupational risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Wh ile weaving carpet, wrist and finger flexors and extensors are used repetit ively, with pinching movements and forced grasping. We aimed to investigate CTS frequency in hand-made carpet workers. Methods: Seventy women from car pet workshops in the city center and 30 healthy unemployed women were evalu ated by clinical examination and electrophysiology. The relationship betwee n CTS development and employment duration, and work produced per year were also investigated. Our study is cross-sectional. Results: CTS was present i n 31 hands (22.1%) of workers and in four hands (6.7%) of the control group . The estimated relative risk of developing CTS was 3.3 times greater in ca rpet-workers than it was in controls. Considering all hands, we could not f ind any correlation between CTS development and employment duration (P = 0. 977), or with work produced per year (P = 0.505); but these two were the pr ominent factors contributing to delayed median sensory latency (P = 0.013, P = 0.009, respectively). Conclusions: We could not find any correlation be tween CTS development and employment duration, or with work produced per ye ar; but these two were the prominent factors contributing to delayed median sensory latency The results indicates that women working in the handmade c arpet industry have a higher risk of CTS development.