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The patient works on a computer 8 hours each day. What kind of repetitive strain injury would be expected in this patient?

a. Meniscus injury
b. Rotator cuff injury
c. Radial-ulnar fracture
d. Carpal tunnel syndrome

User Mrtedweb
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

A patient who works on a computer 8 hours a day is most likely to develop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, a condition where the median nerve is compressed in the wrist due to repetitive movements like typing or mouse use.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patient who works on a computer for 8 hours each day is most likely to develop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome(CTS). This repetitive strain injury occurs when the median nerve is compressed within the carpal tunnel of the wrist, which can be a result of extended periods of repetitive motion such as typing or using a mouse. Symptoms often include pain, numbness, and muscle wasting in the thumb and first two fingers, and treatment generally involves rest, immobilization, and in some cases, surgery.

Other repetitive strain injuries like tendinitis also occur due to overuse of a joint, leading to microtrauma and an inflammatory response. However, for a computer worker, the repeated use of the wrists primarily points to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as the expected condition. Conditions such as meniscus injury, rotator cuff injury, and radial-ulnar fracture are less associated with computer work than CTS is.

User Thomas Geritzma
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