Ivanhoe's Medical Breakthroughs:Prevalence of Carpal Tunnel

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Prevalence of Carpal Tunnel

Jan. 28, 2002 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Doctors are finding out more facts

behind carpal tunnel syndrome or CTS. Researchers from the Tuscany

region of Italy recently undertook a large study to determine how

prevalent the condition is in the general population.

They compared their numbers with two recent studies conducted in the

United States: one in Rochester, Minn. and the other in Marshfield, Wis.

The study in Siena, Italy, found the rate of CTS to be three-times

higher than it is in Rochester and similar to the rate in Marshfield.

Carpal tunnel is a common cause of lost workdays and high health care

costs. Patients report pain in the palm of the hand, and they say

repetitive movements of the fingers and wrist often trigger it. They say

shaking or rubbing that area can sometimes alleviate pain.

Italian researchers studied medical records from 1991 to 1998 and found

3,142 new cases of CTS. Of these, nearly 80 percent were women. They say

it was detected most often when women were in their 60s. Men were

diagnosed more often in their 60s and 80s. The researchers write, " The

slight increase in incidence recorded over the years in our area is

related to the increase in men because the incidence remains quite

constant in women. "

The doctors say this research points out the need for new health

surveillance systems to keep track of the condition and specific

occupational-related studies for this common disorder.

SOURCE: Neurology, 2002;58:289-294

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