Published January 13, 2022 | Version v1

PREVALENCE OF CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME SYMPTOMS AMONG DENTISTS IN BENGHAZI CITY - LIBYA

  • 1. BDs, MDPH, Assistant Lecturer At Preventive and Community Dentistry Department, Head of Pedodontic, Orthodontic, and Preventive and Community Dentistry Department At Libyan International Medical University.
  • 2. BDS, MSc, German Board Of Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery, Doctoral Degree By LBMS, Lecturer at Oral and Maxillofacial Department, Vice Dean at Libyan International Medical University.
  • 3. BDS, General Dental Practitioner At Libyan International Medical University.

Description

Introduction: Many diseases may affect the nerves of a wrist, one of them is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). In the general population, the frequency of CTS prevalence ranged between 3% and 6%.

Objectives: To demonstrate the prevalence of CTS symptoms among dentists working in Benghazi-Libya.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019. 205 dentists working in 14 different dental clinics across the city were asked to fill in a questionnaire regarding the symptoms of CTS.

Results: Out of 205 questionnaires distributed, only 132 dentists (64.4 %) responded, 73 were male (55.3%) and 59 (44.7%) were female. Out of those participants, 81 dentists (61.3 %) had one or more symptoms of CTS. 32 dentists (24.2%) experienced hand or wrist pain at night, whereas 42 dentists (31.8%) complained of wrist pain during the daytime. In addition, 19 dentists (14.4%) felt hand numbness and 34 (25.8%) suffered from hand weakness during work. Moreover, hand-tingling problems were observed in 23 dentists (17.4%), and the difficulty with grasping and using small objects were reported in 19 dentists (14.4%). Finally, the difficulty of handling manual devices and surgical forceps was detected in 12 dentists (9.1%) and 37 dentists (28%) respectively.

Conclusion: This study shows a significant number of dentists working in Benghazi have symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. 

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