Work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (WRUEMSDs) have shown to be related to many occupational situations and specific industries. However, there is conflicting information about monotonous and repetitive activities. In this context, the profession of surgical device mechanics has not been analyzed so far. The objective of this study is to examine surgical device mechanics at different workplaces with varying work contents and to compare them with a control group without the repetitive workload exposition as described above. The headquarters and main production site of Aesculap are located in Tuttlingen/Germany. Aesculap is the world leading manufacturer of surgical devices. After statistical power analysis, the investigators plan to randomize and include a total of 90 voluntary test persons in 3 groups (30 persons each). The study will include standardized questionnaires and a physical examination as well as an industry test (Purdue Pegboard Test). Primary and secondary endpoints were defined to show if significant difference between surgical device mechanics and a control group is present.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
70
xy
Aesculap AG
Tuttlingen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) Score (questionnaire)
Validated questionnaire for upper extremity assessment (link in the reference section)
Time frame: 6 months
Range of wrist motion
wrist extension/flexion, supination/pronation, ulnar/radial abduction (in degrees)
Time frame: 6 months
Grip force of the hand
Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer (in kgs)
Time frame: 6 months
Finger sensibility
2-Point-Discrimination (in mm)
Time frame: 6 months
Stenosing tenosynovitis
Clinical test, focussing on areas of pain, smoothness of finger motion, evidence of locking (= trigger finger) and presence of lump in the palm (0=negative/no pathology, 1=positive/pathology)
Time frame: 6 months
De Quervain tenosynovitis
Clinical test, focussing on pain on thumb and wrist movement, focal tenderness and swelling over radial styloid, positive Finkelstein test (pain on passive ulnar deviation) and triggering or crepitus (0=negative/no pathology, 1=positive/pathology)
Time frame: 6 months
Nerve entrapment syndromes
Hoffmann's sign: tingling sensation triggered by a mechanical stimulus in the distal part of entrapped nerves (0=negative/no pathology, 1=positive/pathology)
Time frame: 6 months
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Phalen maneuver: the test person is asked to hold the wrist in complete and forced flexion for 60 seconds. This provokes symptoms characteristic for carpal tunnel syndrome such as burning, tingling or numb sensation over the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers (0=negative/no pathology, 1=positive/pathology)
Time frame: 6 months
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
Maudsley's test (= middle finger test): the examiner resists extension of the 3rd digit of the hand, stressing the extensor digitorum muscle and tendon, while palpating the test person's lateral epicondyle (0=negative/no pathology, 1=positive/pathology)
Time frame: 6 months
Purdue Pegboard Test
Standardized industrial test to examine uni- and bimanual skill (number of repetitions, point scale)
Time frame: 6 months
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