William E Daniell1, Deborah Fulton-Kehoe, Lisa A Chiou, Gary M Franklin. 1. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. bdaniell@u.washington.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Work-related carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a leading cause of disability. There is a need for information about temporal trends, clinical practices, and treatment outcomes. METHODS: A population based, retrospective cohort study of Washington State workers' compensation claims for CTS was initiated focusing on claims filed during 1990-1994, followed through 2000 (n = 16,710). RESULTS: Half of the claims were filed for conditions other than CTS, but were eventually identified to be or include CTS. The first CTS diagnosis occurred more than 3 months after claim filing in 20% of claims. The longer that the CTS diagnosis occurred after claim filing, the more likely that CTS was accompanied by other problems, and disability tended to be longer. CONCLUSIONS: Making an accurate diagnosis of CTS and initiating appropriate actions earlier than might otherwise occur could reduce the disability and costs in a large fraction of claims that are ultimately determined to involve CTS.
BACKGROUND: Work-related carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a leading cause of disability. There is a need for information about temporal trends, clinical practices, and treatment outcomes. METHODS: A population based, retrospective cohort study of Washington State workers' compensation claims for CTS was initiated focusing on claims filed during 1990-1994, followed through 2000 (n = 16,710). RESULTS: Half of the claims were filed for conditions other than CTS, but were eventually identified to be or include CTS. The first CTS diagnosis occurred more than 3 months after claim filing in 20% of claims. The longer that the CTS diagnosis occurred after claim filing, the more likely that CTS was accompanied by other problems, and disability tended to be longer. CONCLUSIONS: Making an accurate diagnosis of CTS and initiating appropriate actions earlier than might otherwise occur could reduce the disability and costs in a large fraction of claims that are ultimately determined to involve CTS.
Authors: Michael S Cartwright; Samuel Yeboah; Francis O Walker; Daryl A Rosenbaum; Jill C Newman; Thomas A Arcury; Dana C Mora; Sara A Quandt Journal: Muscle Nerve Date: 2016-01-05 Impact factor: 3.217
Authors: Bradley Evanoff; Bethany T Gardner; Jaime R Strickland; Skye Buckner-Petty; Alfred Franzblau; Ann Marie Dale Journal: Am J Ind Med Date: 2016-02-23 Impact factor: 2.214
Authors: Michael S Cartwright; Leah P Griffin; Hugh Dowlen; Jessica M Bargoil; James B Caress; Zhongyu J Li; Anthony J Defranzo; Ethan R Wiesler; Christopher J Tuohy; Nikhil Balakrishnan; Joseph A Molnar; Vanessa Baute; L Andrew Koman; Gary G Poehling; Francis O Walker Journal: Muscle Nerve Date: 2015-09-10 Impact factor: 3.217
Authors: Ann Marie Dale; Folasade Agboola; Amber Yun; Angelique Zeringue; Muhammed T Al-Lozi; Bradley Evanoff Journal: PM R Date: 2014-10-15 Impact factor: 2.298
Authors: Craig Conlon; Steven Asch; Mark Hanson; Andrew Avins; Barbara Levitan; Carol Roth; Michael Robbins; Michael Dworsky; Seth Seabury; Teryl Nuckols Journal: Perm J Date: 2016-10-03
Authors: Ann Marie Dale; Bethany T Gardner; Angelique Zeringue; Robert Werner; Alfred Franzblau; Bradley Evanoff Journal: J Occup Environ Med Date: 2014-08 Impact factor: 2.162