WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Rafal Yousif Saadoon Al-Hadad* and Selwa Elias Yacoub

ABSTRACT

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common peripheral nerve compression disorder in adult population. It is often described as an occupational hazard, including occupations involving computer, calculator, sewing machine & mobile phone. Aim of the study: To find out the association between carpal tunnel syndrome and the pattern, period and type of the use of electronic devices. Patient and Methods: A case-control study was conducted at orthopedic, neurosurgery and nerve study and physiology departments in Erbil Teaching Hospital in Erbil city/ Iraq for the period from 1st of February to the 1st of July 2024. Two hundred patients; 100 cases diagnosed to have carpal tunnel syndrome and 100 controls were included in the study. A structured questionnaire was completed via direct interview with all the participants to collect data related to their sociodemographic characteristics and that of pattern of use of electronic devices. Results: Two thirds of the cases were of (30-45 years) age group, large majority (92%) female, 81% housewife’s, 93% non-smokers , 66% obese , 8% completed their university education and only 7% had clerical job .Smartphone/Tablet was the most common used device among both studied groups and chatting was the main purpose of use. The duration of use of electronic devices within case group found to be significantly longer than that of control group (p value (0.001).Conclusions: The current study revealed a significant association between the duration of the use of electronic devices and carpel tunnel syndrome.