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Q: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Chefs ( Answered 5 out of 5 stars,   1 Comment )
Question  
Subject: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Chefs
Category: Health > Conditions and Diseases
Asked by: tkk2-ga
List Price: $50.00
Posted: 16 Sep 2002 14:47 PDT
Expires: 16 Oct 2002 14:47 PDT
Question ID: 65712
I am looking for data on the most frequent debilitating injuries
(burns/scalds don't count) suffered by professional chefs in their
occupational environment.  I am particulary interested in 1)the number
reported cases of Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI) or Carpal Tunnel
Syndrom (CTS) in the wrist or elsewhere, by year or average over a
period of recent years. 2) How long is the recovery
time from an "average" CTS wrist surgery.  3) What is the average
cost of CTS surgery for a single wrist.

My particular interest is in RSI or CTS of professional chefs wrists.
Any relevant data or information would be helpful. Thank you.
Answer  
Subject: Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Chefs
Answered By: crabcakes-ga on 16 Sep 2002 19:19 PDT
Rated:5 out of 5 stars
 
tkka- 
What an interesting question! I, for one, have a newfound respect for
chefs! Oily mists and heat exposure, salmonella and hepatitis, slips
and falls, foot and back problems, burns and cuts……Never before had I
considered those dangerous elements of being a chef! For interesting
reading about these hazards, visit these sites.

http://www.calmis.cahwnet.gov/file/occguide/COOKCHEF.HTM
and
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos161.htm
and 
http://www.michiganrestaurant.org/page.cfm/66/?po=340&id=135

Some of the “battle hazards” chefs encounter are crabby customers with
bad attitudes, and a prevalence of obesity, divorce and alcoholism.
http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2001/Aug-22-Wed-2001/living/16815440.html

While burns and cut wounds  ARE the most common hazard,  we will not
fry that chicken here as you have requested information about CTS and
RSI.



1)The number of reported cases of RSI or CTS, in the wrist or
elsewhere, by year or average over a period of recent years.
====================

I could find no better numbers specifically for chefs with CTS/RSI
than this site. This site has a table on page 6 that states : 225
Chefs with claims for repetitive motion injuries, from 1996-2000, with
an average cost of $4,000 per claim.
http://www3.gov.ab.ca/hre/whs/publications/pdf/erg017.pdf


In an updated 1999 report (no date given), 1.9 million people in the
US  have had or have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, per the Department of
Labor.
http://www.ecri.org/documents/060702.asp

Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the second most common type of
surgery, with well over 230,000 procedures performed annually.
http://www.repetitive-strain.com/national.html

From the Bureau of Labor Statistics; 18% of all illnesses reported
were RSIs. In 1984 that figure grew to 28%, in 1992 to 52%, and by the
year 2000 estimates are that 70% of all occupational illnesses
reported will be RSIs. “… estimates that RSIs now cost companies $20
billion a year. “
http://webreference.com/rsi.html


A slightly different set of statistics here:
“Approximately 260,000 carpal tunnel release operations are performed
each year and 47 percent of these are considered to be work-related”.
(1994 )
http://www.aaos.org/wordhtml/press/carpalfa.htm


2) How long is the recovery time from an "average" CTS wrist surgery.
====================
Again, healing and recovery rates vary. The severity of the problem,
skill of the surgeon, and condition of the patient can affect the rate
of recovery. Some patients realize an immediate relief of nighttime
tingling and numbness after surgery. If the nerve has been compressed
for a very long time before surgery, the time for nerve function to
recover can take longer, and in some cases, never fully returns.

Stitches are often removed after 10 days after surgery. Tenderness at
the incision site may persist until healing is complete.  In an odd
phenomena, some patients who had suffered  from CTS in both wrists,
find that symptoms subside, or even disappear in  the other hand,
after surgery on one hand! Recurrence of CTS is rare as well.

It may be several weeks before you can return to your normal level of
physical activities; for some, it will be several months. You will
probably be given hand exercises to do to rebuild circulation, muscle
strength and joint flexibility in your hand and wrist.
According to Neurosurgery.org, the average time until return to work
for those patients not receiving Workers' Compensation was 3 weeks

http://www.neurosurgery.org/focus/july97/3-1-3.html
and
http://www.neurosurgery.org/health/patient/askaneuro.asp?disorderID=24

The surgical technique used can affect the recovery time as well, with
the endoscopic technique allowing a quicker return to work than more
invasive procedures.
http://www.davidlnelson.md/Endoscopic_Carpal_Tunnel_Release.htm

“Healing can happen but it may take months, even years. That's why
it's important that you . . . “
http://www.engr.unl.edu/ee/eeshop/rsi.html


3) What is the average  cost of CTS surgery for a single wrist. 
====================
Costs vary from patient to patient, hospital to hospital. Direct
medical costs surpass two billion dollars for 300,000- 500,000
surgical procedures a year according to the National Institute of
Occupational Safety
http://www.ecri.org/documents/060702.asp


This site claims the cost of surgery is $35,000 (1991) 
http://www.rolf.org/about/repetitive.html

This site mentions vague costs of CTS, not revealing whether the
figures represent treatment or surgery. (I mention it here for
comparison purposes)
http://www.tifaq.com/information/archive/cts_costs-jun98-tom_albin.txt

From a University of Michigan-Flint site: 
Direct medical costs of CTS per case can range from $10,000 for
conservative treatment, to $60,000 or more if surgery is required.
(Compensation/disability costs can go as high as $265,000.)
http://www.flint.umich.edu/departments/PT/PTCTD/ctsbroch.htm


According to a  Dr. Mackinnon, physical therapy typically costs $100
an hour and patients may need up to six visits. Surgery to correct CTS
costs about $2,000 plus the costs for rehabilitation. (1995)
http://www.ctdnews.com/suffer/interventions.html

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA), repetitive strain injuries are the
nation's most common and costly occupational health problem, affecting
hundreds of thousands of American workers, and costing more than $20
billion a year in workers compensation.
http://www.repetitive-strain.com/national.html


From OSHA and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
1.	According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA), repetitive strain injuries are the
nation's most common and costly occupational health problem, affecting
hundreds of thousands of American workers, and costing more than $20
billion a year in workers compensation.
2.	According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly two-thirds
of all occupational illnesses reported, were caused by exposure to
repeated trauma to workers upper body ( the wrist, elbow or shoulder
). One common example of such an injury is carpal tunnel syndrome.
3.	The only national routine source of information on occupational
injuries and illnesses experienced by U.S. workers is the Annual
Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses conducted by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics (BLS). The survey is a random sample of about
250,000 private sector establishments, but excludes the self-employed,
farms with fewer than 11 employees, private households, and ALL
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. -Statement of Lina Rosenstck, M.D., M.P.H.
Director of National Institute For Occupational Safety And Health
before the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Committee on
Education and the Workforce-U.S. House of Representatives 5/21/97.
4.	Musculoskeletal disorders, including carpal tunnel syndrome, are
among the most prevalent medical conditions in the U.S., affecting 7%
of the population. They account for 14% of physician visits and 19% of
hospital stays. 62% of the persons with musculoskeletal disorders
report some degree of limitation on activity, compared with 14% of the
population at large, according to the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health.
5.	849,000 new cases of carpal tunnel syndrome occurred in
1994.-National Center for Health Statistics.
6.	Approximately 260,000 carpal tunnel release operations are
performed each year, with 47% of the cases considered to be work
related.-National Center for Health Statistics.
7.	Carpal tunnel syndrome results in the highest number of days lost
among all work related injuries. Almost half of the carpal tunnel
cases result in 31 days or more of work loss.-National Center for
Health Statistics.
8.	A report by NIOSH revealed that more than 50% of all food cashiers,
(jobs predominantly held by women), suffered some degree of carpal
tunnel syndrome and other forms of repetitive strain injuries as a
result of the physical demands of scanning products at high speed.
9.	Currently, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome affects over 8-million Americans.
10.	Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the #1 reported medical problem,
accounting for about 50% of all work-related injuries
11.	Presently, 25% of all computer operators have Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome, with estimates that by the year 2000, 50% of the entire
workforce may be affected.
12.	Only 23% of all Carpal Tunnel Syndrome patients were able to
return to their previous professions following surgery.
13.	Up to 36% of all Carpal Tunnel Syndrome patients require unlimited
medical trearment.
14.	Women are twice as likely to develop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as
opposed to their male counterparts.
15.	While women account for about 45% of all workers, they experience
nearly 2/3's of all work-related Repetitive Strain Injuries.
16.	Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the second most common type
of surgery, with well over 230,000 procedures performed annually.
http://www.repetitive-strain.com/national.html
 
For conventional and non-conventional treatments, visit this site:
http://www.repetitive-strain.com/treatment.html


Great color diagrams of the wrist, hand and carpal tunnel can be seen
here:
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/booklet/thr_report.cfm?thread_id=13&topcategory=hand
and 
http://www.assh.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Patients_and_Public/Common_Hand_Concerns/Carpal_Tunnel_Syndrome.htm


While sifting through these many chef-related sites, I came across
some humorous sites as well:
An amusing article about chefs:
http://www2.alberta.com/food/columns/displayone.cfm?articleid=928

One chef complains of CTS after too much sauté!
http://www.webcom.com/mars/ceuforum/Read/1026.html

If this does not satisfy your requirements, please don’t hesitate to
ask for a clarification.

Regards,
crabcakes


Search stategy
CTS + Chefs
RSI + chefs
Carpal tunnel syndrome
occupational hazards + chefs
tkk2-ga rated this answer:5 out of 5 stars
An extremely thorough and well thought out methodology producing
excellent results. I would like to be able to find this talented
researcher again.  k2d@taconic.net

Comments  
Subject: Re: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Chefs
From: crabcakes-ga on 17 Sep 2002 16:46 PDT
 
tkk2,
Thank you for your kind words and the stars! We researchers love those
stars as much as being able to supply you with the information you
were seeking.
~crabcakes

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