______ is a common repetitive stress injury associated with prolonged typing in desk which may indirectly lead to accidents.

Appeared in: MP NHM CHO-2024 (Shift-1)

Explanation

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a classic repetitive stress injury caused by compression of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel of the wrist.
Prolonged typing with improper wrist posture is a well-documented risk factor for developing this condition.
The mechanism involves inflammation and swelling of the tendons surrounding the median nerve, leading to its compression.
Symptoms include numbness, tingling, and pain in the thumb, index, middle, and radial half of the ring finger.
Weakness and loss of grip strength associated with the condition can lead to difficulty holding objects, increasing the risk of accidents.

Option B: Prepatellar bursitis affects the knee, not the wrist. It is an inflammation of the bursa in front of the kneecap.
Option C: Vibration white finger (or Raynaud's phenomenon) is caused by exposure to continuous vibration from power tools, not from typing.
Option D: Mesothelioma is a type of cancer, not a repetitive stress injury. Its primary cause is exposure to asbestos.

Visual 1: Anatomical Diagram - A cross-section of the wrist showing the carpal tunnel, the median nerve, and the surrounding tendons. An inflamed state could be contrasted with a normal state to illustrate the compression.
Visual 2: Infographic - An infographic demonstrating proper and improper wrist posture while typing to illustrate ergonomic principles for prevention.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Occupational Health and Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI) helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses, especially in occupational health settings, play a crucial role in educating employees about ergonomic principles to prevent repetitive stress injuries like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Assessment for CTS includes specific provocative tests like Phalen's maneuver (wrist flexion) and Tinel's sign (tapping over the median nerve) to elicit symptoms.
Patient teaching includes advising on wrist splints (especially at night), activity modification, and stretching exercises to alleviate pressure on the median nerve.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key elements in the question stem: 'repetitive stress injury' and 'prolonged typing'.
Your goal is to match this specific cause (typing) with the correct condition from the options.
Review each option and recall its primary cause.
Option A, Carpal tunnel syndrome, is widely known to be associated with repetitive hand and wrist motions like typing.
Option B, Prepatellar bursitis, relates to the knee and kneeling.
Option C, Vibration white finger, relates to using vibrating tools.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Occupational Health and Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI)
Stem keywords: repetitive stress injury, prolonged typing, desk, accidents
Lead-in keywords: is a common
Clinical cues: The link between a specific activity (prolonged typing) and a resulting medical condition is the central clue.

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Lewis Medical Surgical Nursing p. 524-543

Practise the full MP NHM CHO-2024 (Shift-1)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.