Prevalence of clinical findings of carpal tunnel syndrome in Isfahanian dentists

Authors
Abbas Haghighat 1
Saeid Khosrawi 2
Abdolmajid Kelishadi 3
Sepideh Sajadieh 2
Hamid Badrian 4
1 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental School, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
3 Dentist, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
4 School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Background: Carpal tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the most common compression neuropathy. Jobs with frequent and repetitive hand movements are one of the risk factors for this syndrome. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of CTS in Isfahanian dentists.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 240 dentists were evaluated for CTS. Diagnosis was made according to both questionnaire and clinical tests of Phalen and Tinel. Age, sex, years of experience, working hours per week and the type of procedure were considered as dependent variables. All data were analyzed by Chi-square and T-test using SPSS software 11.5 (α=0.05).
Results: Among the dentists who were studied, 173 (72%) were male and 67 (28%) were female. 16.2% of males and 17.9% of females had symptoms of CTS and there wasn't any significant difference between them (P>0.05%). the prevalence increased with advancing age. In a way that it reached to 22.2% in ages more than 55 in contrast to 6% among individuals between 25-34 years old. With increasing of experience to 15 years the risk of CTS increased but an unexpected reduction was observed with more than 15 years of experience.
Conclusion: This study showed the prevalence of CTS was 16.7% among dentists and was more common in older dentists. CTS prevalence was increased with age. The dentist population with more working hours per week and more experience years were more susceptible for this syndrome. Using suitable gloves, wrist splints and short periods of resting during vigorous continuous working can decrease the symptoms of this disease.
Keywords
Carpal tunnel syndrome
clinical findings
dentists
1. D'Arcy CA, McGee S. Does this patient have carpal tunnel syndrome? J Am Med Assoc 2000;283:3110.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2. Botte MJ, Von Schroeder H, Abrams RA, Gellman H. Recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome. Hand Clin 1996;12:731-43.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3. Clarke Stevens J, Witt JC, Smith BE, Weaver AL. The frequency of carpal tunnel syndrome in computer users at a medical facility. Neurology 2001;56:1568.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4. Frontera WR, Silver JK, Rizzo TD. Essentials of physical medicine and rehabilitation: Musculoskeletal disorders, pain, and rehabilitation. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Co; 2008.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5. Paine KW, Polyzoidis KS. Carpal tunnel syndrome. J Neurosurg 1983;59:1031-6.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6. Dumitru D, Amato AA, Zwarts MJ. Electrodiagnostic medicine. Texas: Hanley and Belfus San Antonio; 2002.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7. Blumenthal S, Herskovitz S, Verghese J. Carpal tunnel syndrome in older adults. Muscle Nerve 2006;34:78-83.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8. De Krom M, Knipschild P, Kester A, Thijs C, Boekkooi P, Spaans F. Carpal tunnel syndrome: Prevalence in the general population. J Clin Epidemiol 1992;45:373-6.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9. Chin D, Jones NF. Repetitive motion hand disorders. J Calif Dent Assoc 2002;30:149-60.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10. Szymañska J. Dentist's hand symptoms and high-frequency vibration. Ann Agric Environ Med 2001;8:7-10.  Back to cited text no. 10
    
11. Brown PN. What's ailing us? Prevalence and type of long-term disabilities among an insured cohort of orthodontists. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2004;125:3-7.  Back to cited text no. 11
    
12. Rice VJ, Nindl B, Pentikis JS. Dental workers, musculoskeletal cumulative trauma, and carpal tunnel syndrome, who is at risk? A Pilot Study. Int J Occup Saf Ergon 1996;2:218.  Back to cited text no. 12
    
13. Hamann C, Werner RA, Franzblau A, Rodgers PA, Siew C, Gruninger S. Prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome and median mononeuropathy among dentists. J Am Dent Assoc 2001;132:163.  Back to cited text no. 13
    
14. Anton D, Rosecrance J, Merlino L, Cook T. Prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and carpal tunnel syndrome among dental hygienists. Am J Ind Med 2002;42:248-57.  Back to cited text no. 14
    
15. Åkesson I, Johnsson B, Rylander L, Moritz U, Skerfving S. Musculoskeletal disorders among female dental personnel-clinical examination and a 5-year follow-up study of symptoms. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 1999;72:395-403.  Back to cited text no. 15
    
16. Lalumandier J, McPhee S. Prevalence and risk factors of hand problems and carpal tunnel syndrome among dental hygienists. J Dent Hyg 2001;75:130-4.  Back to cited text no. 16
    
17. de Krom M, de Krom C, Spaans F. Carpal tunnel syndrome: Diagnosis, treatment, prevention and its relevance to dentistry]. Ned Tijdschr Tandheelkd 2009; 116:97-101.  Back to cited text no. 17
    
 
Advanced Biomedical Research
Volume 2012, May
May 2012
Pages 1-4