Work Disabling Nerve Injury at Both Elbows Due to Laptop Use at Flexible Workplaces inside an Office: Case-Report of a Bilateral Ulnar Neuropathy

Abstract

Background: This case report describes whether a female civil servant who developed bilateral ulnar neuropathy can be classified as having an occupational disease. Methods: The Dutch six-step protocol for the assessment and prevention of occupational diseases is used. Results: Based on the six-step protocol, we propose that pressure on the ulnar nerve in the elbow region precipitated the neuropathy for this employee while working prolonged periods in elbow flexion with a laptop. Conclusion: Despite the low incidence laptop use might be a risk factor for the occurrence of ulnar neuropathy due to prolonged pressure on the elbow. Employers and workers need to be educated about this disabling occupational injury due to laptop use and about protective work practices such as support for the upper arm and elbow. This seems especially relevant given the trend of more flexible workspaces inside and outside offices, and given the seemingly safe appearance of laptop use.

Occupational and non-occupational risk factors correlating with the severity of clinical manifestations of carpal tunnel syndrome and related work disability among workers who work with a computer

“…We also found a correlation between the sensory recordings on the ulnar nerve on the ring finger and CTS aggravation, disability, and risk factors, which supports other studies evidencing common moderate involvement of the ulnar nerve in the clinical presentations of CTS ( 132 , 133 , 134 , 135 , 136 , 137 , 138 ) or that computer work is associated with the ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow (cubital tunnel syndrome) and the wrist (Guyon's canal syndrome) due to repetitive compression from leaning on the elbows or wrists during work with a mouse or a keyboard ( 139 , 140 , 141 ).…”