Work-Related Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Diagnosis and Treatment Guideline

Gary M Franklin; Andrew S Friedman

doi:10.1016/j.pmr.2015.04.003

Work-Related Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Diagnosis and Treatment Guideline

Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2015 Aug;26(3):523-37. doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2015.04.003. Epub 2015 Jun 19.

Authors

Gary M Franklin¹, Andrew S Friedman²

Affiliations

¹ Departments of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Neurology, and Health Services, University of Washington, 130 Nickerson, Seattle, WA 98109, USA. Electronic address: meddir@uw.edu.
² Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.

PMID: 26231963
DOI: 10.1016/j.pmr.2015.04.003

Abstract

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common entrapment neuropathy, and its risk of occurrence in the presence of repetitive, forceful angular hand movements, or vibration, is common. It is critical to make the diagnosis based on appropriate clinical history and findings and with corroborating electrodiagnostic studies. Conservative management should be undertaken with the goal of maintaining employment; surgical decompression can be highly effective, particularly if undertaken early on.

Keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome; Causation; Diagnosis; Electrodiagnostic studies; Evidence-based review; Treatment; Workers' compensation.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* / diagnosis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* / economics
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* / therapy
Humans
Occupational Diseases* / diagnosis
Occupational Diseases* / economics
Occupational Diseases* / therapy
Occupational Medicine / standards*
Practice Guidelines as Topic*
Workers' Compensation