Postural tenosynovitis caused by misuse of a computer input device (mouse)

: Several reports of postural problems among video display unit workers are available, most frequently involving the back, neck and shoulder. The case described is an example of tenosynovitis of the right wrist at the point where the wrist rests on the work surface while operating the mouse in a computer workstation (2-3 hours/day 6 days/week). The alteration was caused by a combination of friction and pressure on the wrist joint tendon due to the faulty positioning of the hand and wrist. This is the normal resting position for the wrist (inclined towards the ulnar side), and is thus the most natural position to adopt. The reported alteration, which responded to a short period of rest and treatment with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs for 2-3 days, is described as an example of common injury caused by an unusual faulty posture of the hand. The preventive measures suggested to avoid the occurrence of this type of injury include: (i) instead of resting the weight of the hand on the ulnar side of the wrist it should be distributed between the two pads of fatty tissue which form the base of the palm, (ii) the mouse button could be clicked with the third finger instead of the index finger in order to avoid the tendency of hand to roll into the faulty rest position.