Upper limb musculoskeletal complaints among technicians working in a diagnostic tuberculosis laboratory: two case reports

Upper limb musculoskeletal complaints are common among certain health professionals. We report two cases, both involving technicians working in a diagnostic tuberculosis laboratory in Hong Kong. A work process evaluation suggest that the need to repeatedly open and close small bottles, as well as to...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Work (Reading, Mass.) Vol. 48; no. 4; p. 547
Main Authors:	Wong, Joyce Y P, Chin, David, Fung, Henry, Li, Ann, Wong, Marcus M S, Kwok, Henry K H
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Netherlands 01-01-2014
Subjects:	Adult Clinical Laboratory Services Cumulative Trauma Disorders - etiology De Quervain Disease - etiology Female Hand Humans Musculoskeletal Pain - etiology Occupational Diseases - etiology Occupational Health Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - diagnosis Wrist Case study upper limb musculoskeletal complaints laboratory technicians
Online Access:	Get more information
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	Upper limb musculoskeletal complaints are common among certain health professionals. We report two cases, both involving technicians working in a diagnostic tuberculosis laboratory in Hong Kong. A work process evaluation suggest that the need to repeatedly open and close small bottles, as well as to work for prolonged periods of time in confined areas, could be related to the workers' clinical presentation. The cases are also compatible with the diagnosis of repetitive strain injury (RSI) of the upper limb, but this term is not commonly used nowadays because of various definitional issues. A review of the various diagnostic issues in RSI is presented.
ISSN:	1875-9270
DOI:	10.3233/wor-131807