Risk factors for operated carpal turnel syndrome: multicenter population-based case control study.

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a socially and economically relevant disease caused by compression or entrapment of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel. This population-basedcase-control study aims to investigate occupational/non occupational risk factors for surgically treated CTS.Methods: Cases (n = 220) aged 18-65 years were randomly drawn from 13 administrative databases of citizens who were surgically treated with carpal tunnel release during 2001. Controls (n = 356) were randomly sampled from National Health Service registry records and were frequency matched by age-gender-specific CTS hospitalization rates.Results: At multivariate analysis, risk factors were blue-collar/housewife status, BMI 65 30 kg/m2, sibling history of CTS and coexistence of trigger finger. Being relatively tall (cut-offs based on tertiles: women 65165 cm; men 65175 cm) was associated with lower risk. Blue-collar work was a moderate/strong risk factor in both sexes. Raised risks were apparent for combinations ofbiomechanical risk factors that included frequent repetitivity and sustained force.Conclusion: This study strongly underlines the relevance of biomechanical exposures in both nonindustrial and industrial work as risk factors for surgically treated CTS