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 ) .
Carpal tunnel syndrome: prevalence in the general population.
To study the prevalence of  carpal tunnel syndrome ( CTS ) in the general population and the value of brachialgia paraesthetica nocturna ( BPN ) in diagnosing CTS , an age and sex stratified r and om sample of 715 subjects was taken from the population register of Maastricht ( The Netherl and s ) and surrounding villages , between September 1983 and July 1985 . The response rate was 70 % . Of these , 12 CTS cases had already been diagnosed . Of the remaining subjects , 64 ( 13 men , 51 women ) woke up because of BPN . Among these subjects 1 man and 23 women were found to have CTS . The prevalence rate of undetected CTS was 5.8 % [ 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) : 3.5 - 8.1 % ] in adult women ; 3.4 percent ( 95 % CI : 1.5 - 5.3 % ) had already been diagnosed as CTS . The overall prevalence rate for men was 0.6 % ( 95 % CI 0.02 - 3.4 % ) . These figures have to be regarded as minimal estimates . The overall diagnostic value of BPN for CTS was 38 % , while for women only this was 45 % ( 95 % CI : 31 - 60 % )
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 ) .