Carpal tunnel syndrome affects one in 10 French people aged 20 to 64, mostly women, who largely attribute it to work but are in the minority to have requested recognition as an occupational disease, according to a study published Wednesday.
Within the broad family of musculoskeletal disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome manifests as pain, sensory disturbances, and motor impairments in several fingers.
“ Its occurrence, favored by personal factors (age, sex), medical or hormonal factors, is linked to professional or extra-professional activities (repetitive movements, use of vibrating tools, strenuous manual activities, etc.)«" , note Public Health France (SpF) in its study.
A preliminary study on the reasons for the underreporting of these common diseases
Although it is one of the most frequent occupational diseases in France, as in other major industrialized countries, no study had previously documented the reasons for non-reporting as an occupational disease, according to the health agency.
SpF used telephone surveys for the 2020 and 2021 editions of its Barometer, with 6,646 and 17,740 residents of mainland France aged 20 to 64 respectively.
The results show that just over one in 10 people reported having suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome in the previous five years, with a ratio of six women to four men.
Read also Carpal tunnel syndrome: what are the causes and treatments?
One in ten people consults a doctor
Of these individuals, only one in ten reported consulting at least one doctor—primarily a general practitioner, less frequently a rheumatologist or surgeon. A small proportion (15%) underwent surgery, most often women aged 45 to 64.
Although more than 70% people attributed their pathology to work, only 10% of them took steps to declare it as an occupational disease, which most often leads to recognition.
The others explain that they did not use it because they considered their "« minor symptoms or pain »"(25%), did not know how to proceed (11%), feared losing their job (10%) or facing complex or cumbersome formalities (9%), the study details.
Read also Musculoskeletal disorders: take action at the first sign of pain
However, it is an occupational disease recognized by Social Security.
To improve awareness of the system, the health agency recommends strengthening the training of general practitioners and continuing public information campaigns on musculoskeletal disorders.
Currently, carpal tunnel syndrome is the second most frequently recognized occupational disease by the general social security system, after rotator cuff tendinopathies of the shoulder.
According to the National Federation of Accident Victims and Disabled Workers (Fnath), between 11,600 and 32,300 cases related to an accident or illness at work are not reported as such, burdening the finances of Social Security with 43 to 121 million euros.
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