Lately this blog has focused on safety, time to get back on to straight ergonomics. One of the challenges for people interested is what is ergonomically correct. You see it in a lot of places. Car sets and controls are ergonomically designed? What does that mean? Didn't they think of drivers before? Anyway, ergonomics focuses on risk factors.
The language of ergonomics is not the medicalese or engineering speak I sometimes encounter. There is a subtle difference. Posture is ad ducted trochanters or radial nerve impingement. It is compression of the radial nerve, or non neutral posture and position. Using the risk factors as a basis for descriptions is the ergonomically correct language.
Risk factors Reminder
Awkward postures
Static postures
Contact Stress
Frequency/Repetition & Duration
Force
Vibration
Temperature Extremes
Psychosocial Issues
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
peanut butter recall
January 19, 2009: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is conducting a very active and dynamic investigation into the source of the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak. At this time, the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state partners have traced sources of Salmonella Typhimurium contamination to a plant owned by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), which manufactures peanut butter and peanut paste—a concentrated product consisting of ground, roasted peanuts—that are both distributed to food manufacturers to be used as an ingredient in many commercially produced products including cakes, cookies, crackers, candies, cereal and ice cream. In addition, PCA peanut butter is distributed to and institutionally served in such settings as long-term care facilities and cafeterias.
The FDA has notified PCA that product samples originating from its Blakely, Georgia (Ga.), processing plant have been tested and found positive for Salmonella by laboratories in the states of Minnesota and Connecticut. Connecticut and Minnesota have reported to FDA that samples of King Nut peanut butter tested in those states are a genetic match to the strain of Salmonella associated with the nationwide outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium. The results from the Connecticut Department of Health Laboratory are from an unopened container of King Nut peanut butter. FDA wishes to acknowledge the Connecticut laboratory, Infectious Disease Section and Department of Consumer Protection as well as health officials in Minnesota for their efforts.
King Nut is a distributor of PCA product. This information, along with the results available from laboratory testing and the CDC epidemiological analysis, have now led FDA to confirm that the source of this outbreak is peanut butter and peanut paste produced by PCA at its Blakely, Ga. processing plant.
On January 18, PCA expanded its previous voluntary recall to include more products and lot numbers relating to peanut butter and peanut paste products manufactured on or after July 1, 2008, at its Blakely, Ga., plant because of potential Salmonella contamination. The peanut butter products being recalled are sold by PCA in bulk containers ranging in size from five (5) to 1700 pounds. The peanut paste is sold in sizes ranging from 35-pound containers to product sold by the tanker container. These products are not sold directly to consumers. PCA has stopped all production at its Blakely, Ga. plant as the FDA continues its investigation. Based on this information, and on the current state of the investigation, the FDA recommends that consumers avoid eating products that have been recalled and discard them.
Major national brands of jarred peanut butter are not affected by the PCA recall. PCA does not sell peanut butter directly to consumers. PCA only sells peanut butter to institutions and food manufacturers (some of which use it as an ingredient in other processed/packaged foods). Some food manufacturers use PCA peanut butter or peanut paste in baked or processed foods, such as crackers, cookies, cakes or ice cream to name a few. The FDA and food manufacturers are working to identify products that may be affected, and to track the ingredient supply chain of those products to facilitate their removal from the marketplace.
Based on available information, FDA and CDC recommendations include:
For Consumers
FDA has created a searchable list of products and brands associated with the expanded PCA recall. This list is available on the FDA website at:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm and will be updated on a regular basis as additional sub recalls occur and information is received by FDA from the industry.
The FDA has notified PCA that product samples originating from its Blakely, Georgia (Ga.), processing plant have been tested and found positive for Salmonella by laboratories in the states of Minnesota and Connecticut. Connecticut and Minnesota have reported to FDA that samples of King Nut peanut butter tested in those states are a genetic match to the strain of Salmonella associated with the nationwide outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium. The results from the Connecticut Department of Health Laboratory are from an unopened container of King Nut peanut butter. FDA wishes to acknowledge the Connecticut laboratory, Infectious Disease Section and Department of Consumer Protection as well as health officials in Minnesota for their efforts.
King Nut is a distributor of PCA product. This information, along with the results available from laboratory testing and the CDC epidemiological analysis, have now led FDA to confirm that the source of this outbreak is peanut butter and peanut paste produced by PCA at its Blakely, Ga. processing plant.
On January 18, PCA expanded its previous voluntary recall to include more products and lot numbers relating to peanut butter and peanut paste products manufactured on or after July 1, 2008, at its Blakely, Ga., plant because of potential Salmonella contamination. The peanut butter products being recalled are sold by PCA in bulk containers ranging in size from five (5) to 1700 pounds. The peanut paste is sold in sizes ranging from 35-pound containers to product sold by the tanker container. These products are not sold directly to consumers. PCA has stopped all production at its Blakely, Ga. plant as the FDA continues its investigation. Based on this information, and on the current state of the investigation, the FDA recommends that consumers avoid eating products that have been recalled and discard them.
Major national brands of jarred peanut butter are not affected by the PCA recall. PCA does not sell peanut butter directly to consumers. PCA only sells peanut butter to institutions and food manufacturers (some of which use it as an ingredient in other processed/packaged foods). Some food manufacturers use PCA peanut butter or peanut paste in baked or processed foods, such as crackers, cookies, cakes or ice cream to name a few. The FDA and food manufacturers are working to identify products that may be affected, and to track the ingredient supply chain of those products to facilitate their removal from the marketplace.
Based on available information, FDA and CDC recommendations include:
For Consumers
FDA has created a searchable list of products and brands associated with the expanded PCA recall. This list is available on the FDA website at:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm and will be updated on a regular basis as additional sub recalls occur and information is received by FDA from the industry.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
DAOHN Gov't Affairs Jan 15
DAOHN Update Govt Affairs
CDC Investigating 43-State Salmonella Outbreak
Changes to NIOSH-Approved Spirometry Training Program Begin 2009
FMLA Final Regulations Become Effective January 16, 2009
Michigan Draft Ergonomics Standard Under Fire from Business Groups
CDC Investigating 43-State Salmonella Outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is collaborating with public health officials in many states and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multi-state outbreak of human infections due to Salmonella serotype Typhimurium.
Preliminary analysis of an epidemiologic study conducted by CDC and public health officials in multiple states comparing foods eaten by ill and well persons has suggested peanut butter as a likely source. To date, no association has been found with common brand names of peanut butter sold in grocery stores.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture Laboratory isolated the outbreak strains of Salmonella Typhimurium from an open 5-pound container of King Nut brand creamy peanut butter. The product is distributed in Minnesota to establishments such as long-term care facilities, hospitals, schools, universities, restaurants, delis, cafeterias, and bakeries. It is not sold directly to consumers and is not known to be distributed for retail sale in grocery stores.
Updates on the outbreak and investigation can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typhimurium/.
Changes to NIOSH-Approved Spirometry Training Program Begin 2009
Two important program changes to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Spirometry Training Program will take effect January 1, 2009.
First, a time limitation will be placed on the certificates awarded to students who successfully complete NIOSH-approved spirometry training. Second, NIOSH will begin reviewing and approving dedicated spirometry refresher training courses designed for technicians who have previously completed a NIOSH-approved spirometry course and are seeking recertification.
For additional information contact Lu-Ann Beeckman-Wagner at lbb3@cdc.gov.
Visit the NIOSH Spirometry Training Course Web page at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/spirometry/.
FMLA Final Regulations Become Effective January 16, 2009
The Final Regulations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) were crafted from over 4,600 public comments and implement two important new military family leave entitlements for eligible specified family members.
The Final Regulations (PDF) implement:
1. Up to 12 weeks of leave for certain qualifying exigencies arising out of a covered military member's active duty status, or notification of an impending call or order to active duty status, in support of a contingency operation, and
2. Up to 26 weeks of leave in a single 12-month period to care for a covered service member recovering from a serious injury or illness incurred in the line of duty on active duty. Eligible employees are entitled to a combined total of up to 26 weeks of all types of FMLA leave during the single 12-month period.
For more information, including links to the entire Rule (200+ page PDF) and a summary fact sheet (4 page PDF) visit http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/finalrule.htm.
NIOSH Guide Available for Improving Worker Health and Well-being
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has a guide for employers and employer-employee partnerships wishing to establish effective workplace programs that sustain and improve worker health.
The guide, Essential Elements of Effective Workplace Programs and Policies for Improving Worker Health and Well-being, is a key part of the NIOSH WorkLife Initiative, which is intended to identify and support comprehensive approaches to reduce workplace hazards and promote worker health and well-being. Essential Elements document identifies twenty components of a comprehensive work-based health protection and health promotion program and includes both guiding principles and practical direction for organizations seeking to develop effective workplace programs.
The guide is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/worklife/essentials.html.
________________________________________
E-Prescribing Initiative on Medicare Calendar for 2009
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that physicians and other eligible professionals who adopt and use qualified electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) systems to transmit prescriptions to pharmacies may earn an incentive payment of 2.0 percent of their total Medicare allowed charges during 2009.
The initiative is included in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule for calendar year 2009. This incentive is in addition to a 2.0 percent incentive payment for 2009 for physicians who successfully report measures under the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI), and both incentive payments are in addition to the 1.1 percent fee schedule update required by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA). Thus, a physician who successfully reports under both the e-prescribing and PQRI initiatives could receive up to a 5.1 percent pay boost for 2009.
Widespread adoption of electronic prescribing can eliminate medication errors that result from the misreading of handwritten prescriptions. Medicare beneficiaries may also have reduced out-of-pocket costs as e-prescribing facilitates communication between prescribers and pharmacies on lower-cost generic alternatives.
Find out more about the CMS initiative at
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press/release.asp?Counter=3330&intNumPerPage=10&checkDate=&checkKey=&srchType=1&numDays=3500&srchOpt=0&srchData=&keywordType=All&chkNewsType=1%2C+2%2C+3%2C+4%2C+5&intPage=&showAll=&pYear=&year=&desc=&cboOrder=date.
Michigan Draft Ergonomics Standard Under Fire from Business Groups
Michigan’s business and manufacturing groups want to halt efforts to adopt a mandatory workplace ergonomics standard in the state. They have fought hard against the standard from the start, and the worsening economic crisis has given them a new weapon. Calling on Gov. Jennifer Granholm to kill the process, they argue the standard is unnecessary and a job killer. A key vote is due this week.
Commissions set up by state regulators are scheduled to take a preliminary—but key—vote on potential rules this week.
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) released a new draft of the standard in 2008. Four years in the making, it is designed to reduce occupational risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
Its opponents see it as a financial drain in a state already hard hit by the nation’s economic downturn. A coalition including the National Federation of Independent Business argued at a Lansing news conference on January 9 that the rules are not needed because many employers voluntarily make improvements aimed at reducing the number of workplace injuries caused by repetitive movements. They say mandatory ergonomics training and reporting would raise the cost of doing business at a time many employers are struggling because of Michigan's poor economy.
CDC Investigating 43-State Salmonella Outbreak
Changes to NIOSH-Approved Spirometry Training Program Begin 2009
FMLA Final Regulations Become Effective January 16, 2009
Michigan Draft Ergonomics Standard Under Fire from Business Groups
CDC Investigating 43-State Salmonella Outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is collaborating with public health officials in many states and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multi-state outbreak of human infections due to Salmonella serotype Typhimurium.
Preliminary analysis of an epidemiologic study conducted by CDC and public health officials in multiple states comparing foods eaten by ill and well persons has suggested peanut butter as a likely source. To date, no association has been found with common brand names of peanut butter sold in grocery stores.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture Laboratory isolated the outbreak strains of Salmonella Typhimurium from an open 5-pound container of King Nut brand creamy peanut butter. The product is distributed in Minnesota to establishments such as long-term care facilities, hospitals, schools, universities, restaurants, delis, cafeterias, and bakeries. It is not sold directly to consumers and is not known to be distributed for retail sale in grocery stores.
Updates on the outbreak and investigation can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typhimurium/.
Changes to NIOSH-Approved Spirometry Training Program Begin 2009
Two important program changes to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Spirometry Training Program will take effect January 1, 2009.
First, a time limitation will be placed on the certificates awarded to students who successfully complete NIOSH-approved spirometry training. Second, NIOSH will begin reviewing and approving dedicated spirometry refresher training courses designed for technicians who have previously completed a NIOSH-approved spirometry course and are seeking recertification.
For additional information contact Lu-Ann Beeckman-Wagner at lbb3@cdc.gov.
Visit the NIOSH Spirometry Training Course Web page at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/spirometry/.
FMLA Final Regulations Become Effective January 16, 2009
The Final Regulations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) were crafted from over 4,600 public comments and implement two important new military family leave entitlements for eligible specified family members.
The Final Regulations (PDF) implement:
1. Up to 12 weeks of leave for certain qualifying exigencies arising out of a covered military member's active duty status, or notification of an impending call or order to active duty status, in support of a contingency operation, and
2. Up to 26 weeks of leave in a single 12-month period to care for a covered service member recovering from a serious injury or illness incurred in the line of duty on active duty. Eligible employees are entitled to a combined total of up to 26 weeks of all types of FMLA leave during the single 12-month period.
For more information, including links to the entire Rule (200+ page PDF) and a summary fact sheet (4 page PDF) visit http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/finalrule.htm.
NIOSH Guide Available for Improving Worker Health and Well-being
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has a guide for employers and employer-employee partnerships wishing to establish effective workplace programs that sustain and improve worker health.
The guide, Essential Elements of Effective Workplace Programs and Policies for Improving Worker Health and Well-being, is a key part of the NIOSH WorkLife Initiative, which is intended to identify and support comprehensive approaches to reduce workplace hazards and promote worker health and well-being. Essential Elements document identifies twenty components of a comprehensive work-based health protection and health promotion program and includes both guiding principles and practical direction for organizations seeking to develop effective workplace programs.
The guide is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/worklife/essentials.html.
________________________________________
E-Prescribing Initiative on Medicare Calendar for 2009
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that physicians and other eligible professionals who adopt and use qualified electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) systems to transmit prescriptions to pharmacies may earn an incentive payment of 2.0 percent of their total Medicare allowed charges during 2009.
The initiative is included in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule for calendar year 2009. This incentive is in addition to a 2.0 percent incentive payment for 2009 for physicians who successfully report measures under the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI), and both incentive payments are in addition to the 1.1 percent fee schedule update required by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA). Thus, a physician who successfully reports under both the e-prescribing and PQRI initiatives could receive up to a 5.1 percent pay boost for 2009.
Widespread adoption of electronic prescribing can eliminate medication errors that result from the misreading of handwritten prescriptions. Medicare beneficiaries may also have reduced out-of-pocket costs as e-prescribing facilitates communication between prescribers and pharmacies on lower-cost generic alternatives.
Find out more about the CMS initiative at
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press/release.asp?Counter=3330&intNumPerPage=10&checkDate=&checkKey=&srchType=1&numDays=3500&srchOpt=0&srchData=&keywordType=All&chkNewsType=1%2C+2%2C+3%2C+4%2C+5&intPage=&showAll=&pYear=&year=&desc=&cboOrder=date.
Michigan Draft Ergonomics Standard Under Fire from Business Groups
Michigan’s business and manufacturing groups want to halt efforts to adopt a mandatory workplace ergonomics standard in the state. They have fought hard against the standard from the start, and the worsening economic crisis has given them a new weapon. Calling on Gov. Jennifer Granholm to kill the process, they argue the standard is unnecessary and a job killer. A key vote is due this week.
Commissions set up by state regulators are scheduled to take a preliminary—but key—vote on potential rules this week.
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) released a new draft of the standard in 2008. Four years in the making, it is designed to reduce occupational risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
Its opponents see it as a financial drain in a state already hard hit by the nation’s economic downturn. A coalition including the National Federation of Independent Business argued at a Lansing news conference on January 9 that the rules are not needed because many employers voluntarily make improvements aimed at reducing the number of workplace injuries caused by repetitive movements. They say mandatory ergonomics training and reporting would raise the cost of doing business at a time many employers are struggling because of Michigan's poor economy.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Christmas Safety tips
We strongly urge you to make a pre-holiday
review of safety practices in your home to help reduce
the chances of accidents and injuries.
Here are tips for a safe and accident free holiday:
Lighted candles and electric Christmas tree lights are potential fire hazards. Homeowners are advised to inspect the string of lights for possible frayed wires,
crimped wires that could lead to short circuits, or defective sockets that could create special electrical problems of their own. While lighted candles lend special
effects to the holiday season, they should never be displayed on the tree or near any evergreen boughs. They should be used only in glass containers designed
for candle illumination.
Because gift wrappings, boxes, cartons, and packing materials burn very fast and generally high heat, they should never be burned in the fireplace. There is a tendency to allow the overloading of extension cords and the scattering of cords on the
floor during the holiday season because it is a temporary condition.
It is safer to avoid these practices, even temporarily. NEVER overload an electrical circuit and NEVER leave extension cords out where someone can
trip over them. Finally - two good Christmas gifts for the entire family are an extra smoke detector an a fire extinguisher (for both home and car)
Prepare your car for winter. Start with a checkup that includes:
-Checking the ignition, brakes, wiring, hoses and fan belts
-Changing and adjusting the spark plugs
-Checking the air, fuel and emission filters, and the pvc valve
- inspecting the distributor and the battery
-Checking the tires for air, sidewall wear and tread depth, and
antifreeze levels and the freeze line
Your car should have a tune up to ensure better gas mileage,
quicker starts and faster response on pick-up and passing power
Toy safety depends on the toy itself, the child’s ability to use it safely, and on an adult’s instruction and supervision for proper use. With so many different toys on the market, it is not easy to choose the right one.
Parents are urged to select toys carefully, following these guidelines
for safety:
- Look for well-made, sturdy toys which will take a pounding
- Insist on smooth, rolled edges that won’t cut young fingers
- Be sure they have no parts small enough to fit into the mouth,
ears, or nose
-make sure toys are made of non-flammable material and that
painted surfaces are labeled “non-toxic.”
- Look for Underwriters laboratories (UL) listing on electrical
toys.
A toy that is too simple or too complicated for a small child is
frustrating and unsafe.
Be aware that in a family with children of different ages toys
used by older children can be hazardous for the younger children.
Teach children to put toys away and NEVER to leave toys in walkways or stairways
Parents can protect their children from painful accidents by
keeping toys in good repair, checking frequently for hazard producing
damage, and by discarding toys that can’t be repaired to a safe condition
Check for the safety labels on the gifts and toys you buy. Make sure the gift is appropriate, not just one that caught your eye.
When you decorate the tree keep this thought in mind: Lights and wires and plugs get old and must be checked from time to time.
Pet Safety
Poinsettias are toxic to cats, chocolate and many nuts are hazardous for pets to eat, and tinsel and ornaments can become an intestinal obstruction if eaten
Now that you’re thinking safety in all the many different ways, we know that you’ll have a SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY.
review of safety practices in your home to help reduce
the chances of accidents and injuries.
Here are tips for a safe and accident free holiday:
Lighted candles and electric Christmas tree lights are potential fire hazards. Homeowners are advised to inspect the string of lights for possible frayed wires,
crimped wires that could lead to short circuits, or defective sockets that could create special electrical problems of their own. While lighted candles lend special
effects to the holiday season, they should never be displayed on the tree or near any evergreen boughs. They should be used only in glass containers designed
for candle illumination.
Because gift wrappings, boxes, cartons, and packing materials burn very fast and generally high heat, they should never be burned in the fireplace. There is a tendency to allow the overloading of extension cords and the scattering of cords on the
floor during the holiday season because it is a temporary condition.
It is safer to avoid these practices, even temporarily. NEVER overload an electrical circuit and NEVER leave extension cords out where someone can
trip over them. Finally - two good Christmas gifts for the entire family are an extra smoke detector an a fire extinguisher (for both home and car)
Prepare your car for winter. Start with a checkup that includes:
-Checking the ignition, brakes, wiring, hoses and fan belts
-Changing and adjusting the spark plugs
-Checking the air, fuel and emission filters, and the pvc valve
- inspecting the distributor and the battery
-Checking the tires for air, sidewall wear and tread depth, and
antifreeze levels and the freeze line
Your car should have a tune up to ensure better gas mileage,
quicker starts and faster response on pick-up and passing power
Toy safety depends on the toy itself, the child’s ability to use it safely, and on an adult’s instruction and supervision for proper use. With so many different toys on the market, it is not easy to choose the right one.
Parents are urged to select toys carefully, following these guidelines
for safety:
- Look for well-made, sturdy toys which will take a pounding
- Insist on smooth, rolled edges that won’t cut young fingers
- Be sure they have no parts small enough to fit into the mouth,
ears, or nose
-make sure toys are made of non-flammable material and that
painted surfaces are labeled “non-toxic.”
- Look for Underwriters laboratories (UL) listing on electrical
toys.
A toy that is too simple or too complicated for a small child is
frustrating and unsafe.
Be aware that in a family with children of different ages toys
used by older children can be hazardous for the younger children.
Teach children to put toys away and NEVER to leave toys in walkways or stairways
Parents can protect their children from painful accidents by
keeping toys in good repair, checking frequently for hazard producing
damage, and by discarding toys that can’t be repaired to a safe condition
Check for the safety labels on the gifts and toys you buy. Make sure the gift is appropriate, not just one that caught your eye.
When you decorate the tree keep this thought in mind: Lights and wires and plugs get old and must be checked from time to time.
Pet Safety
Poinsettias are toxic to cats, chocolate and many nuts are hazardous for pets to eat, and tinsel and ornaments can become an intestinal obstruction if eaten
Now that you’re thinking safety in all the many different ways, we know that you’ll have a SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
New Treatment guidelines in works for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
“Carpal tunnel syndrome, otherwise known as CTS, is among the most common disorders of the upper extremity. It affects up to 10 percent of the population and is related to many factors, but is thought to be caused by increased pressure on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel in the wrist,” said Michael Keith, M.D., chair of the AAOS work group responsible for creating the new guideline.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2005, an estimated 3.1 million people sought help from physicians for the treatment of CTS.
“The Academy created this clinical practice guideline to improve patient care for those suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,” said Keith. “The document serves as a point of reference and educational tool for both family practitioners and orthopaedic surgeons, streamlining possible treatment processes for this ever-so common ailment.”
In June 2007, the Journal of the Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS) reported about 500,000 CTS surgical procedures are performed each year. The same study also reported the economic impact due to CTS is estimated to exceed $2 billion annually.
The final CTS treatment guideline contains nine recommendations that include both operative and non-operative treatment options, as well as alternative techniques. Some of the recommendations include:
• Traditional bracing or splinting
• Local steroid injection
• Oral steroids
• Ultrasound
• Carpal tunnel release surgery
After doing a thorough analysis of the current literature, the work group found no evidence that supports the following treatments:
• Heat therapy
• Acupuncture
• Diuretics
• Electric stimulation
• Massage therapy
• Magnet therapy
• Nutritional supplements.
“This guideline is not intended to stand alone,” added. Keith. “It can be used as a starting point for physicians and can open up the lines of patient-physician communication on possible treatment options.”
As new research, knowledge and literature on CTS becomes available, this guideline will be reviewed and re-evaluated by the Guidelines and Technology Oversight Committee. It will be considered for updating in 3 to 5 years, which is consistent with evidence-based standards.
The guideline was developed by an AAOS physician volunteer work group and was based upon a systematic review of the current scientific and clinical information on accepted approaches to treatment and/or diagnosis. The entire process lasted about 18 months and included a review panel consisting of internal and external committees, public commentaries and final approval by the AAOS Board of Directors.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2005, an estimated 3.1 million people sought help from physicians for the treatment of CTS.
“The Academy created this clinical practice guideline to improve patient care for those suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,” said Keith. “The document serves as a point of reference and educational tool for both family practitioners and orthopaedic surgeons, streamlining possible treatment processes for this ever-so common ailment.”
In June 2007, the Journal of the Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS) reported about 500,000 CTS surgical procedures are performed each year. The same study also reported the economic impact due to CTS is estimated to exceed $2 billion annually.
The final CTS treatment guideline contains nine recommendations that include both operative and non-operative treatment options, as well as alternative techniques. Some of the recommendations include:
• Traditional bracing or splinting
• Local steroid injection
• Oral steroids
• Ultrasound
• Carpal tunnel release surgery
After doing a thorough analysis of the current literature, the work group found no evidence that supports the following treatments:
• Heat therapy
• Acupuncture
• Diuretics
• Electric stimulation
• Massage therapy
• Magnet therapy
• Nutritional supplements.
“This guideline is not intended to stand alone,” added. Keith. “It can be used as a starting point for physicians and can open up the lines of patient-physician communication on possible treatment options.”
As new research, knowledge and literature on CTS becomes available, this guideline will be reviewed and re-evaluated by the Guidelines and Technology Oversight Committee. It will be considered for updating in 3 to 5 years, which is consistent with evidence-based standards.
The guideline was developed by an AAOS physician volunteer work group and was based upon a systematic review of the current scientific and clinical information on accepted approaches to treatment and/or diagnosis. The entire process lasted about 18 months and included a review panel consisting of internal and external committees, public commentaries and final approval by the AAOS Board of Directors.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
