Analysis of Work-Related Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Compensated with the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance from 2000 to 2002

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study was to analyze the characteristics of work-related carpal tunnel syndrome, as listed by the Korea Labor Welfare Corporation (KLWC). METHOD: Using the database of the KLWC, 163 approved work-related carpal tunnel syndrome cases were collected, which occurred between 1st, 2000 and 31th, 2002. Investigations were conducted by mail survey and interviews. RESULTS: Women accounted for 57.1%. The mean age and disease-related working duration were 44.7 years and 6.7 years, respectively. The most common industrial type of enterprise was manufacturing (104 workers) and the most common job was craft and related trades (51 workers), respectively. The most common cause of disease was repetitive work (104 workers). The duration between job starting and occurrence of disease was shorter in excessive force (5.5 years), women (5.7 years), non-manufacturing industries (4.4 years), and elementary occupations (5.0 years) than those having bad posture (14.8 years), men (8.2 years), manufacturing (8.1 years) and craft and related trades (8.7 years), respectively. CONCLUSION: Through this study, we elucidated certain characteristics of workers such as age, sex, working duration and high risk groups (women, workers at small scale industries and at non-manufacturing industries and excessive- forced work) with approved occupational carpal tunnel syndrome.