Peripheral nerve disorders in instrumentalists

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
I evaluated 226 instrumentalists for playing‐related symptoms. There were 103 players (46%) of string instruments, 73 keyboard instrumentalists (32%), 44 players (19%) of wind instruments, and 6 percussionists (3%). The mean age was 32 years; 58% were women. Sixty‐five patients (29%) had a peripheral nerve disorder; 27 had symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome; 12 had median neuropathies (carpal tunnel syndrome in 9); 9 had ulnar neuropathies; 6 had cervical radiculopathy; 5 had digital neuropathies; 3 had cranial neuropathies; and 3 had other peripheral nerve disorders. Treatment consisted of modification of playing schedules and technique, plus physical and occupational and therapy in 51 and surgical procedures in 9 patients; 5 were not treated. Follow‐up at 1 to 8 years showed 74% had a satisfactory result, 14percnt; had slight or minimal improvement, and 12percnt; had no improvement. At the time of writing, all but 4 patients remained in the music profession. It is concluded that playing‐related symptoms among instrumentalists are frequently neurological in origin and that the large majority can be helped by conservative or, on occasion, surgical means.