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REVIEW article

Front. Public Health
Sec. Occupational Health and Safety
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1407302
This article is part of the Research Topic Environmental and occupational exposure and chronic diseases View all 19 articles

OCCUPATIONAL CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME: A SCOPING REVIEW OF CAUSES, MECHANISMS, DIAGNOSIS, AND INTERVENTION STRATEGIES

Provisionally accepted
Alexandra Rotaru-Zavaleanu Alexandra Rotaru-Zavaleanu 1Cristian Lungulescu Cristian Lungulescu 2Marius G. Bunescu Marius G. Bunescu 3Ramona C. Vasile Ramona C. Vasile 4Victor Gheorman Victor Gheorman 5Andrei Gresita Andrei Gresita 6*Venera Dinescu Venera Dinescu 7
  • 1 Department of Epidemiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Dolj, Romania
  • 2 Oncology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Dolj, Romania
  • 3 Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Dolj, Romania
  • 4 University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Dolj, Romania
  • 5 Department of Psichiarty, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Dolj, Romania
  • 6 New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, United States
  • 7 Department of Health Promotion and Occupational Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Dolj, Romania

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) has traditionally been viewed as a specialized medical condition. However, its escalating prevalence among professionals across a multitude of industries has sparked substantial interest in recent years. This review aims to delve into CTS as an occupational disease, focusing on its epidemiological patterns, risk factors, symptoms, and management options, particularly emphasizing its relevance in professional environments. The complex interaction of anatomical, biomechanical, and pathophysiological factors that contribute to the development of CTS in different work settings underlines the critical role of ergonomic measures, prompt clinical identification, and tailored treatment plans in reducing its effects. Nevertheless, the challenges presented by existing research, including diverse methodologies and definitions, highlight the need for more unified protocols to thoroughly understand and tackle this issue. There's a pressing demand for more in-depth research into the epidemiology of CTS, its injury mechanisms, and the potential role of targeted medicine. Moreover, recognizing CTS's wider ramifications beyond personal health is essential. The economic burden associated with CTS-related healthcare costs, productivity losses, and compensation claims can significantly impact both businesses and the broader society. Therefore, initiatives aimed at preventing CTS through workplace interventions, education, and early intervention programs not only benefit the affected individuals but also contribute to the overall well-being of the workforce and economic productivity. By fostering a collaborative approach among healthcare professionals, employers, policymakers, and other stakeholders, we can strive towards creating safer and healthier work environments while effectively managing the challenges posed by CTS in occupational settings.

    Keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), Occupational CTS, Work-related CTS, Epidemiology CTS, carpal tunnel syndrome treatment

    Received: 26 Mar 2024; Accepted: 08 May 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Rotaru-Zavaleanu, Lungulescu, Bunescu, Vasile, Gheorman, Gresita and Dinescu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Andrei Gresita, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, United States

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.