Cumulative Trauma Disorders

Question 1

Cumulative Trauma Disorder

Answer 1

Can occur in any work situation. Result from repeated stresses that are not excessive individually but over time cause disorders, injuries, and the inability to perform a job.

Question 2

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Answer 2

Results from rapid, repetitious finger and wrist movements. The wrist has a “tunnel” created by the carpal bones on the outer side and ligaments, which are firmly attached to the bones, across the inner side.
Activities that can lead to this disorder include grinding, sanding, hammering, keyboarding, and assembly work.

Question 3

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Answer 3

This disorder occurs from compression of the nerve in the forearm below the elbow and results in tingling, numbness, or pain in the fingers. Leaning over a workbench and resting the forearm on a hard surface or edge typically causes this disorder.

Question 4

Epicondylitis

Answer 4

This disorder is also known as “tennis elbow” and “golfer’s elbow”. It results from irritation of the tendons of the elbow. It is caused by forceful wrist extensions, repeated straightening and bending of the elbow, and impacting throwing motions.

Question 5

Ganglionitis

Answer 5

Is a swelling of a tendon sheath in the wrist. Activities that can lead to this disorder include grinding, sanding, sawing, cutting, and using pliers and screwdrivers

Question 6

Neck Tension Syndrome

Answer 6

This disorder is characterized by an irritation of the muscles of the neck. It commonly occurs after repeated or sustained overhead work.

Question 7

Pronator Syndrome

Answer 7

This disorder compresses a nerve in the forearm. It results from rapid and forceful strenuous flexing of the elbow and wrist. Activities that can lead to this disorder include buffing, grinding, polishing, and sanding.

Question 8

Tendonitis

Answer 8

Inflammation of a tendon where its surface becomes thickened, bumpy, and irregular. Tendon fibers may become frayed or torn. Disorder can result from repetitious, forceful movements, contact with hard surfaces, and vibrations
-Shoulder tendonitis is irritation and swelling of the tendon or bursa of the shoulder. It is caused by continuous elevation of the arm.

Question 9

Tenosynovitis

Answer 9

Characterized by swelling of tendon sheaths and irritation of the tendon. Known as DeQuervain’s syndrome when it affects the thumb. Activities that can lead to this disorder include grinding, polishing, sanding, sawing, cutting, and using screwdrivers.
-Trigger finger: a special case of tenosynovitis that results in the tendon of the trigger finger becoming nearly locked so that its forced movement is jerky.

Question 10

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Answer 10

Characterized by reduced blood flow to and from the arm due to compression of nerves and blood vessels between the collarbone and the ribs. It results in a numbing of the arm and constrains muscular activities.

Question 11

Ulnar Artery Aneurysm

Answer 11

Disorder is characterized by a weakening of an artery in the wrist, causing an expansion that presses on the nerve. This often occurs from pounding or pushing with the heel of the hand, as in assembly work.

Question 12

Ulnar nerve entrapment

Answer 12

Disorder involves pressure on a nerve in the wrist. It occurs from prolonged flexing of the wrist and repeated pressure on the palm. Activities that can lead to this disorder include carpentry, brick laying, and using pliers and hammers.

Question 13

White finger

Answer 13

“Dead finger”, Raynoud’s syndrome, or vibration syndrome. In this disorder, the finger turns cold and numb, tingles, and loses sensation and control. The cause is insufficient blood supply, which causes the finger to turn white. Results from closure of the arteries due to vibrations. Gripping vibrating tools, especially in the cold, is a common cause.

Question 14

Hepatitis

Answer 14

Affects the liver. Symptoms of infection include jaundice, cirrhosis, and liver failure, and liver cancer.

• Hepatitis A can be contracted through contaminated food or water or by direct contact with blood or body fluids such as blood or saliva.
• Hepatitis B: may be transmitted through contact with infected blood, body fluids, and through blood transfusions.
• Hepatitis C: can be transmitted by shared needles, accidental puncture wounds, through blood transfusions, and unprotected sex

Question 15

Rocky mountain spotted fever

Answer 15

Ticks infected with the pathogen Rickettsia rickettsii pass this disease from pets and other animals to humans. Symptoms and effects include headache, rash, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, cardiac arrhythmia, and kidney dysfunction. Death may occur from renal failure and shock.

Question 16

Botulism

Answer 16

Food borne, infant, adult enteric (intestinal), and wound

Question 17

Tetanus

Answer 17

Routine immunization prevent this disease

Question 18

Toxic Shock Syndrome

Answer 18

Caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, which produces a pyrogenic toxin

Question 19

Legionnaires’ Disease

Answer 19

A type of pneumonia caused by inhaling the bacteria Legionella pneumophilia. Symptoms include fever, cough, headache, muscle aches, and abdominal pain. People usually recover in a few weeks and suffer no long-term consequences. Sources of exposure include sprays from cooling towers or evaporative condensers and fine mists from showers and humidifiers. Good system maintenance includes regular cleaning and disinfection.