Involvement of Motor and Sensory Fibers of the Ulnar Nerve according to the Severity of Work-Related Carpal Tunnel Syndrome among Orchardists

Abstract

Objective: To elucidate the involvement of motor and sensory fibers of the ulnar nerve in cases of work-related carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) among orchardists and to determine the association between the severity of work-related CTS and ulnar neuropathy (UN). Method: 1,594 hands of 797 subjects were underwent electrodiagnostic (EDX) tests for median and ulnar nerves. Subjects were classified into three groups: non-CTS, non-UN+CTS, and UN+CTS group. The CTS group was classified into subgroups of CTS severity. Results: Significant differences were found in the conduction parameters of median and ulnar nerves (p < 0.001) among the three groups. Comparison of the mean values of non-CTS group and subgroups of CTS severity also showed significant differences in the conduction parameters of ulnar nerve (p < 0.05). In addition, the severity of CTS showed significant correlations with conduction parameters of the ulnar nerve (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the severity of work-related CTS, we suggest that the pathological processes leading to CTS may affect the motor and sensory fibers of the ulnar nerve.