Transient hand paresthesias in Champagne vineyard workers

Background The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of hand paresthesias (HP) and their relationship with pruning activities. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 537 workers pruning grapevines in the region of Champagne. All workers completed a questionnaire about nocturnal HP and musculoskeletal pain during the preceding 12-month period. Results The 12-month prevalence of nocturnal HP and hand-wrist pain were 37 and 12%, respectively. HP, predominantly affecting the dominant hand, only began during the pruning period and ended after the pruning season in 90% of cases. HP were transient in most cases, with a mean duration of symptoms of 3.3 ± 3.2 months. Risk factors associated with HP were: female gender (OR = 2.3 [1.3–3.0]), being overweight (OR = 1.6 [1.1–2.5]), payment on a piecework basis (OR = 2.0 [1.2–2.3]) and traditional blade sharpening method (OR = 1.7 [1.1–2.7]). HP were less frequent in employees who used electric pruning shears (OR = 0.5 [0.2-1.6], P = 0.09). Conclusions The development of HP, which affected a third of employees, was different from HP observed in industrial workers since most vineyard workers recovered without medical treatment after the pruning season. Am. J. Ind. Med. 40:639–645, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc