Personal and occupational factors associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.

This paper describes a case control study of the personal and environmental factors associated with the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome in workers at an aircraft engine manufacturing company. A comparison of 30 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and 90 matched controls indicated that the use of vibratory hand tools and a history of gynecological surgery, specifically hysterectomy and oophorectomy, were strongly associated with the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome.