The Magnitude of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Among Filipino Dental Workers and Its Prevention

Abstract

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a muscuskeletal disorder of the upper extremity characterized by inflammation and swelling in the tendons that runs through the tunnel in the anterior wrist joint. The resulting compression of the median nerve in the narrow tunnel causes numbness and/ or pain of the first three fingers. The syndrome categorized by the World Health Organization as a work related problem and is caused by high frequency movements and lack of rest period. It is one of the most frequent causes of repetitive strain injury. When CTS afflicts a young productive age group the health, social and economic costs may be staggering especially for a developing country like the Philippines.

Lyde Magpantay