Upper extremities trauma

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH 1997) states that musculoskeletal disorders, which include disorders of the back, trunk, upper extremity, neck, and lower extremity are one of the 10 leading work-related illnesses and injuries in the United States. Praemer et al, (1992) report that work-related upper-extremity disorders (WUEDs), which are formally defined by the Biureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as cumulative trauma illnesses, account for 11.0 % of aU work-related musculoskeletal disorders (illnesses). For comparison, occupational low-back disorders account for more than 51.0% of aU WRMDs. According to BLS (1995), the cumulative trauma illnesses of upper extremity accounted for more than 60% of the occupational illnesses reported in 1993. These work-related illnesses, which include hearing impairments due to occupational noise exposure, represent 6.0% of aU reportable work-related injuries and illnesses (Marras 1996). 

Keyserling, W. M., Stetson, D. S., SUverstein, B. A., and Brouver, M. L. (1993), A Checklist for Evaluating Risk Factors Associated with Upper Extremity Cumulative Trauma Disorders, Ergonomics, Vol. 36, No. 7, pp. 807-831. 

TABLE 7 Sample Checklist for Upper-Extremity Cumulative Trauma Disorders... 

University of Saarland (Germany), 290-291 University of Southern CaMfomia Information Sciences Institute, 1112 University of St. Gallen, 217-218 University of Utah, 238 Uimecessary work, 1459 Unpaced fines models of, 1639 Umelated events, 2147 Unstable processes, 1830 Unsupervised neural networks, 1779-1780 UnsustainabiMty, 997 Upper-Extremity CheckHst, 1143-1144 Upper-extremity cumulative trauma disorders, 1365... 

A physician was consulted to help develop a cumulative trauma disorder (CTD) surveillance program. As one result, the physician made the portion of the pre-placement physical examination that dealt with the upper extremities and the back more detailed for the employees in the slaughter department and the division where carcasses are dismantled. At the 1-month and 1-year anniversary dates, randomly selected employees are invited back to be reexamined. Examination results that indicate early development of CTD are reported to the employees. In addition, management is informed about positions that need further evaluation. However, no personal information that identifies particular employees is released to management. 

Franzblau, A., Flaschner, D., Albers, J.W., Blitz, S., Werner, R. Armstrong, T. 1993. Medical screening of office workers for upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders. Archives of Environmental Health, 48. 

The upper extrerrrities are prone to acute problems such as infection and acute trauma. They are also affected by degenerative processes and overuse injuries. Because of the importance of the ability to use the hands, the physician must be alert for anything affecting the motion of any joint in the upper extremity and seek to prevent permanent disability when possible. 

Acute trauma will usually have an easily obtained history from the patient. Occupation, a variety of sports, vehicular accidents, falls onto the arm, twisting of the arm, and blows to the upper extremity account for most of the causes of acute trauma. Observation is most helpful in identifying cases not reported by the patient bruises, abrasions, lacerations, and swelling are some of the items to be noted. 

R.F. is a 54-year-old man who played tennis two to three times per week. After a particularly rigorous game, pain developed in his right elbow. He iced it and took acetaminophen with little relief He was unable to play tennis, and he found that his grip on doorknobs and when opening jar lids was weakened. He had never experienced trauma to his right upper extremity. He always stretched before activity... 

Risk factors identified with cumulative trauma in upper extremities are ... 

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