Musculoskeletal Pathologies of the Upper Extremity in Surgical Device Mechanics
- Conditions
- Musculoskeletal Diseases or Conditions
- Interventions
- Other: Clinical examination and data processing of questionnaires
- Registration Number
- NCT03014128
- Lead Sponsor
- District Hospital, Tuttlingen
- Brief Summary
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.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 70
- 18-65 years of age
- work ability without absence > 2 weeks within the last 3 months
- >5 years on workplace or similar workplace when in group of surgical device mechanics
- spinal syndrome in history
- chronic shoulder pain in history
- congenital malformation of the upper extremity/hand
- rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia in history
- actual hand therapy as conservative therapy or therapy after operation due to upper extremity musculoskeletal pathology
- previous operation(s) due to nerve entrapment syndrome or chronic musculoskeletal pathology of the upper extremity
Study & Design
- Study Type
- OBSERVATIONAL
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Grinding, Polishing and Matting Clinical examination and data processing of questionnaires self-descriptive All other employees at Aesculap (not in first 2 groups) Clinical examination and data processing of questionnaires including administration and offices as well as all other mechanical workplaces Inspection and Packaging Clinical examination and data processing of questionnaires self-descriptive
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) Score (questionnaire) 6 months Validated questionnaire for upper extremity assessment (link in the reference section)
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Nerve entrapment syndromes 6 months Hoffmann's sign: tingling sensation triggered by a mechanical stimulus in the distal part of entrapped nerves (0=negative/no pathology, 1=positive/pathology)
Carpal tunnel syndrome 6 months 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)
Purdue Pegboard Test 6 months Standardized industrial test to examine uni- and bimanual skill (number of repetitions, point scale)
Range of wrist motion 6 months wrist extension/flexion, supination/pronation, ulnar/radial abduction (in degrees)
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) 6 months 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)
Grip force of the hand 6 months Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer (in kgs)
Stenosing tenosynovitis 6 months 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)
De Quervain tenosynovitis 6 months 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)
Finger sensibility 6 months 2-Point-Discrimination (in mm)
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Aesculap AG
🇩🇪Tuttlingen, BW, Germany