Malattie da sovraccarico biomeccanico dell’arto superiore in cinque addetti alla macellazione di pollame [Upper limb work-related musculoskeletal disorders in five poultry butchers]

We describe 5 workers (3 females and 2 males, mean age 44.5 years) of a poultry slaughterhouse, examined in May 2010 for a judgement on work fitness according to the Italian Law 300/70. Their jobs required highly repetitive actions, often associated with the use of force. The postural involvement was also considerable, particularly for the right arm. The OCRA method, recommended by the international standards ISO 11228-3 and EN 1005-5, was used for risk assessment, giving high or very high (up to 40) index values. All patients reported mild symptoms and displayed radiological and electroneurographic signs of low-grade bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome; additionally, 4 subjects showed signs of bilateral rotator cuff tendonitis, associated in 3 cases with biceps long head tendonitis; one worker was affected by low-grade elbow tendonitis. All patients received specific limitations regarding work fitness, were reported to the Judicial Authority, and referred to the Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority. This case series confirms the well-known risk due to biomechanical overload of the upper limb in poultry butchering, the need for preventive measures in this occupational sector, and the importance of an interdisciplinary approach for a correct etiologic diagnosis.