Prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome in workers from a fishnet factory in Thailand.

摘要

We determined the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) at a fishnet factory in order to discern the possible associated risk factors at this type of workplace. The 662 workers were interviewed then physically examined. The prevalence of CTS was 14.5, which is significantly higher than in the general population. Workers directly involved in the production of fishnets had a significantly higher risk of CTS than the factory's office workers or housemaids (odds ratio = 1.84; range, 1.03-3.29; 95 CI, p = 0.049). There was no association between the length of employment in the factory with CTS (odds ratio = 1.13; range, 0.77-1.66; 95 CI, p = 0.591). Our results confirm that factory jobs with repetitive hyperflexing and twisting of the wrists are at risk of CTS.