[Active search of work related diseases: the example of carpal tunnel syndrome in Pordenone's area]. / La ricerca attiva delle malattie professionali: l'esempio della sindrome del tunnel carpale in provincia di Pordenone.

In the recent years working related pathologies of the upper limbs have raised at the top of ranking of diseases reported to INAIL in the Northern East Area of Italy. In 2004 658 cases of tendinitis have been filed and 361 cases of the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) reported on a total of 1317 and 864 cases respectively in the whole Italian territory. The phenomenon (6.8% of total occupational disease in Pordenone province) interests essentially women and various working environments widely represented. We have worked together with an important Diagnose and Treatment Medical Centre to find new cases of professional illnesses, initially focusing our efforts on the CTS. We have identified 26 new cases of CTS as possibly originated from working conditions and we have filled 11 reports to the Judicial Authorities. In a training meeting with Orthopedic Doctors we have disclosed the results of our research while at the same time we have also divulged our knowledge on the importance of the working environment in the onset of the CTS providing the tools for a correct reporting of suspect cases.