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Ulnar Neuropathy Among Active Workers Based Upon Hand Diagram Ratings
Author(s) -
Werner Robert A.,
Franzblau Alfred,
Evanoff Bradley,
Ulin Sheryl
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
pmandr
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.617
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1934-1563
pISSN - 1934-1482
DOI - 10.1016/j.pmrj.2014.12.014
Subject(s) - medicine , inter rater reliability , physical therapy , elbow , reliability (semiconductor) , ulnar neuropathy , population , ulnar nerve , rating scale , surgery , psychology , environmental health , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , developmental psychology
Background Limited studies have estimated the prevalence of ulnar neuropathy (UN) in the workplace. Hand diagrams have been demonstrated to have a good sensitivity and specificity when attempting to identify patients with UN. Objective To determine the prevalence and associated risk factors for UN among active workers based on results of a hand diagram, and to determine the reliability of hand diagram scoring. Design Cross‐sectional study. Setting Seven different industrial and clerical work sites. Methods A total of 501 active workers were screened. Subjects completed a hand diagram and the Job Content Questionnaire, and had ergonomic assessment of their job. Each hand diagram was scored independently by 2 raters. Main Outcome Measures Rating of the hand diagram for UN. Results Interrater reliability of scoring the hand diagram for UN was very high. The estimated prevalence of UN was 3.6%. Suspected UN was associated with positioning of the elbow but not by contact stress at the elbow or force at the hand. Smokers had a lower prevalence, but smokers with suspected UN had higher‐pack year histories. Workers with suspected UN had a greater sense of job insecurity and lower job satisfaction rating. Conclusions Hand diagram rating has a high interrater reliability. Suspected UN has a relatively high prevalence among active workers in comparison to prior estimates of the prevalence of UN among the general population and is not strongly associated with ergonomic factors.