Conclusion There is insufficient epidemiological evidence that computer work causes CTS
Background This review examines evidence for an association between  computer work and carpal tunnel syndrome ( CTS ) .
Prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome in a general population.
CONTEXT Carpal tunnel syndrome ( CTS ) is a cause of pain , numbness , and tingling in the h and s and is an important cause of work disability . Although high prevalence rates of CTS in certain occupations have been reported , little is known about its prevalence in the general population . OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of CTS in a general population . DESIGN General health mail survey sent in February 1997 , inquiring about symptoms of pain , numbness , and tingling in any part of the body , followed 2 months later by clinical examination and nerve conduction testing of responders reporting symptoms in the median nerve distribution in the h and s , as well as of a sample of those not reporting these symptoms ( controls ) . SETTING A region in southern Sweden with a population of 170000 . PARTICIPANTS A sex- and age-stratified sample of 3000 subjects ( age range , 25 - 74 years ) was r and omly selected from the general population register and sent the survey , with a response rate of 83 % ( n = 2466 ; 46 % men ) . Of the symptomatic responders , 81 % underwent clinical examination . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Population prevalence rates , calculated as the number of symptomatic responders diagnosed on examination as having clinical ly certain CTS and /or electrophysiological median neuropathy divided by the total number of responders . RESULTS Of the 2466 responders , 354 reported pain , numbness , and /or tingling in the median nerve distribution in the h and s ( prevalence , 14.4 % ; 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 13.0%-15.8 % ) . On clinical examination , 94 symptomatic subjects were diagnosed as having clinical ly certain CTS ( prevalence , 3.8 % ; 95 % CI , 3.1%-4.6 % ) . Nerve conduction testing showed median neuropathy at the carpal tunnel in 120 symptomatic subjects ( prevalence , 4.9 % ; 95 % CI , 4.1%-5.8 % ) . Sixty-six symptomatic subjects had clinical ly and electrophysiologically confirmed CTS ( prevalence , 2.7 % ; 95 % CI , 2.1%-3.4 % ) . Of 125 control subjects clinical ly examined , electrophysiological median neuropathy was found in 23 ( 18.4 % ; 95 % CI , 12.0%-26.3 % ) . CONCLUSION Symptoms of pain , numbness , and tingling in the h and s are common in the general population . Based on our data , 1 in 5 symptomatic subjects would be expected to have CTS based on clinical examination and  electrophysiologic testing
Conclusion There is insufficient epidemiological evidence that computer work causes CTS
Background This review examines evidence for an association between  computer work and carpal tunnel syndrome ( CTS ) .