Carpal tunnel syndrome not always work related

Carpal tunnel syndrome is all too frequently believed to be strictly a work related disease. A retrospective analysis of 1,884 carpal tunnel patients examined by one hand surgeon between 1977 and 1992 were evaluated for their rate of employment. Twenty-five percent of these CTS patients were not employed at the time their symptoms developed. We conclude that a significant rate of CTS illness exists in the nonemployed population.