Occupational repetitive strain injuries in Hong Kong

Jason PY Cheung, Boris Fung, WY Ip, SP Chow
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of Hong Kong Medical Centre, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong

OBJECTIVE. To review currently available evidence on the epidemiology and management of occupational repetitive strain injuries with particular reference to Hong Kong.

DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION. Medline, PubMed and Cochrane Library searches of local and internationally published English journals from 1990 to 2007 regarding repetitive strain injuries.

DATA EXTRACTION. All articles involving occupational repetitive strain injuries in Hong Kong were included in this review.

DATA SYNTHESIS. There were 16 articles contributing data on the impact of repetitive strain injuries both in Hong Kong and around the world. There were seven articles dealing with the problem of computer station set-ups and methods for improving the workstation environments.

CONCLUSION. Currently there were significant data on the impact of repetitive strain injuries in Hong Kong. The data took the form of compensation claims, days away from work, and cost of medical consultations. Other articles described proper workplace adjustments to help prevent repetitive strain injuries. However, there were no figures in the current literature showing the impact of these adjustments in reducing the incidence of repetitive strain injuries. More research could help to delineate the relationship between different types of interventions and occupational repetitive strain injuries.

Hong Kong Med J 2008;14:296-302

Key words: Chronic disease; Cumulative trauma disorders; Occupations; Primary health care; Recurrence; Workplace