Long-run impacts of carpal tunnel syndrome on workers' social, physical and financial well-being

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is one of the most high-burden WMSDs in terms of workers' compensation cost per claim and lost workdays.  But  the burden of CTS extends far beyond direct medical and wage replacement costs to include long-term lost earning potential, continuing pain and loss of function and impacts upon the workers’ households. This study attempts to measure the long-term physical, social and financial dimensions of this burden on both the injured worker and their household.  A survey of over 800 workers with time-loss claims for CTS was conducted six years following the closure of their claim. Results are compared to to those of two other claimant groups not expected to see long-term effects of their injuries on the quality of their work-life: 400 with upper extremity fractures and 100 with non-time-loss dermatitis. The survey covers current physical/psychological status, medical treatments, aspects of the respondents’ current and past employment, impacts on the financial health of the workers' household, adjustments in household- and paid-work made by domestic partners and benefits received by respondents from agencies other than workers' compensation. The findings suggest workers with CTS bear significant long-term losses in the form of continuing physical limitations, living/working with pain, depression,  financial losses, increased usage of medical services, and reduced capacity to perform family and social roles. The results indicate that the full burden of CTS is  underestimated by workers' compensation losses and that greater attention to hazard reduction and long-term work re-integration is needed.