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Abstract

Background

Repetitive hand movements during mobile device use, such as texting and typing, may lead to cumulative stress on hand structures and result in musculoskeletal conditions with potential surgical relevance. The increasing ubiquity of smartphone use raises concern for the development of overuse injuries, particularly among younger individuals and high-frequency users.

Objective

To systematically review and characterize surgically relevant hand and wrist pathologies associated with mobile phone use.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search of Embase, PubMed, and Scopus using terms related to mobile device use (e.g., “texting,” “smartphone”) and hand conditions requiring or potentially requiring surgical intervention (e.g., “de Quervain,” “trigger thumb”). Studies were included if they reported hand or wrist injuries in mobile device users with surgical implications. Studies unrelated to hand anatomy or lacking relevance to surgical pathology were excluded. Abstract and full-text screening were followed by data extraction.

Results

Of 588 articles initially identified, 42 met inclusion criteria, representing over 67,000 individuals. The mean age across studies was 24.6 years. The most commonly reported surgically relevant conditions included de Quervain's tenosynovitis (n=9), carpal tunnel syndrome (n=6), tendinitis (n=4), and trigger finger (n=1). Across studies, increased mobile phone use was associated with a higher risk of developing these pathologies.

Conclusions

As mobile device usage continues to rise, recognition of surgically relevant hand injuries is essential. Preventive strategies and ergonomic interventions may reduce the burden of these injuries, particularly in younger and high-use populations.

Keywords

smartphones text messaging hand injuries wrist injuries cumulative trauma disorders tenosynovitis carpal tunnel syndrome ergonomics

Introduction

Mobile phone use has become increasingly prevalent, with more than 50% of children engaging with mobile phones before the age of one, and exposure reported as early as two months of age.¹ This early and prolonged exposure, spanning both pediatric and adult populations, raises important concerns about the potential musculoskeletal implications for the hand.² Among adolescents and young adults, sustained device use may contribute to the development of advanced musculoskeletal disorders, including those requiring surgical intervention. In occupational settings, where mobile devices are frequently integrated into daily workflows, identifying usage thresholds and associated diagnoses is critical for guiding ergonomic standards, occupational health evaluations, and employer-led prevention strategies.

Literature review

As mobile phone use has become ubiquitous across all age groups and occupations, concerns about its impact on musculoskeletal health have grown. Numerous studies have identified associations between frequent phone use and both upper extremity and postural conditions, including neck strain, cubital tunnel syndrome, and hand or wrist disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, De Quervain's tenosynovitis, osteoarthritis of the carpometacarpal joints, and “gamer's thumb”.^3–5 These injuries can compromise occupational performance, reduce functional capacity, and result in substantial healthcare utilization.

Prior research has largely focused on symptom severity, ergonomic risk factors, or behavioral patterns of use, often relying on tools like the Smartphone Addiction Scale–Short Version (SAS-SV).⁶ Higher scores on this scale have been linked to increased reports of wrist pain, reduced grip strength, and greater likelihood of musculoskeletal complaints such as hand and wrist pain, particularly among adolescents and young adults with extended daily use.^7–9 These behavioral patterns may lead to chronic strain and structural injury, increasing the risk of developing conditions such as De Quervain's tenosynovitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.^2,10–13 Preventive strategies including posture education, microbreaks, and stretching exercises have been proposed, reflecting the field's growing awareness of this emerging risk factor.¹⁴ However, while the literature increasingly acknowledges musculoskeletal strain related to mobile technology use, fewer recent studies specifically examine hand pathologies requiring surgical management.

Additionally, prior systematic reviews have characterized the broad relationship between mobile phone use and musculoskeletal pathology. Yaghmour et al. reported that sending 55 or more text messages per day may be associated with increased risk of hand pain and tendinopathy.¹⁵ Similarly, Zirek et al. found that frequent mobile phone use may be linked to higher prevalence of symptoms consistent with fibromyalgia, tendinitis, De Quervain's tenosynovitis, and myofascial pain syndrome.¹⁶ These findings support a potential link between phone-related behaviors and more serious physical complaints.

Research gap

Despite growing recognition of musculoskeletal strain related to mobile phone use, a gap in the literature exists regarding hand-specific conditions that may progress to require surgical intervention. Most existing studies emphasize general symptoms or nonsurgical conditions, with limited attention to the types, severity, and clinical course of hand pathologies associated with device use. This gap restricts our ability to assess the true burden of surgically relevant hand disorders, particularly in occupational settings where prolonged mobile phone use is common.

Study purpose

To address the gap, this systematic review aims to exclusively focus on hand pathologies requiring surgical consideration, building upon prior work. Specifically, it seeks to categorize these conditions by pathology type, describe their clinical presentation and management, and evaluate the quality of the existing literature. This review addresses two core questions: (1) What surgical hand pathologies have been associated with mobile phone use? and (2) What is the management of these conditions? Findings are categorized by pathology type—grouped into inflammatory, nerve-related, pain-related, and other categories—followed by a discussion of the clinical presentation and management of each condition.

Given the pervasive use of mobile devices across all age groups and work environments, understanding the potential link between mobile phone use and surgically significant hand pathologies is increasingly important. This knowledge can help inform clinical decision-making, workplace ergonomic standards, and public health policies aimed at reducing injury risk. By systematically identifying and categorizing these surgical conditions, this review aims to provide valuable insights for healthcare providers, occupational health practitioners, and policymakers. Such information is essential to support targeted prevention efforts and timely interventions that may ultimately decrease disability, improve worker health, and reduce the overall healthcare burden associated with mobile phone overuse.

Methods

Study and methodology

A systematic literature review was conducted using Embase, PubMed, and Scopus databases. Inclusion criteria were all studies evaluating hand injuries in individuals who used handheld devices. Exclusion criteria were studies that evaluated non-hand anatomy or non-hand injuries. Two reviewers independently performed initial title and abstract screening for inclusion. If discordant, a discussion was held with the final decision made by the senior reviewer. Studies then underwent a full-text analysis.

A comprehensive Boolean search strategy was used across all databases, combining terms related to handheld device use and musculoskeletal conditions of the hand:

(“texting” OR “text messaging” OR “mobile phone” OR “smartphone” OR “cell phone” OR “handheld device*” OR “phone use” OR “touchscreen device*” OR “mobile device*” OR “digital device*” OR “repetitive thumb use”)

AND

(“de Quervain” OR “trigger thumb” OR “thumb pain” OR “carpal tunnel” OR “arthritis” OR “tendinitis” OR “tenosynovitis” OR “hand pain” OR “wrist pain” OR “hand injury” OR “hand disorder*” OR “overuse injury” OR “repetitive strain injury” OR “musculoskeletal disorder*” OR “upper extremity pain” OR “hand pathology”)

Search syntax was adapted as needed for each database. Reference lists of included articles were manually reviewed to identify additional eligible studies.

Data extraction and synthesis

Data extraction was performed from the included studies. Relevant information including year of publication, population size, study design, measured outcomes, assessment of one or both hands of individuals, and type of handheld device were extracted. Of note, data involving elbows, shoulders, neck, upper back were not included in extraction. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist. Two independent reviewers conducted the appraisal for each included study. Discrepancies in scoring were resolved by consensus or adjudicated by a third reviewer. The results of the appraisal were used to inform the interpretation of findings and to guide the synthesis of evidence across studies.

Patient and public involvement

The public was not involved in the design or conduct of this study due to the nature of systematic reviews.

Results

Study characteristics

A total of 588 studies were initially screened ( Figure 1 ). Following duplicate removal (n=12) and studies that lacked surgical-relevant hand pathology (n=501), 75 studies were then subjected to full-text analysis. Forty-two studies met inclusion criteria for review ( Table 1 ). With over 67,000 subjects, 27,461 men (40.87%) and 39,992 women (59.52%) were studied. The average age of the studied subjects was 24.58 years old. Subjects in all studies utilized mobile phones. Studies evaluated subjects via questionnaire (n=14), physical exam (n=14), ultrasound (n=6), EMG (n=2), labs (n=2), MRI (n=1), PET (n=1), nerve conduction study (n=1), and chart review (n=1). Eleven studies analyzed right-hand dominant subjects only, and two studies analyzed left-hand dominant subjects only. Study types included cross-sectional (n=27), case reports (n=11), case control (n=1), prevalence (n=1), prospective cohort (n=1), and prospective longitudinal (n=1).

Figure 1.

Flow diagram of study selection.

Table 1.

Study characteristics of the 42 included studies.

Study name	Study design	Sample size	Outcome measure
Inflammatory
Tenosynovitis caused by texting: An emerging disease	Case Report	1	Clinical assessment
"WhatsAppitis”.	Case Report	1	Clinical assessment
Addiction of smartphones and related finger deformities: A case report	Case Report	1	Clinical assessment
Smartphone-induced tendinitis: A case report.	Case Report	1	Clinical assessment
"Texting” tendinitis	Case Report	1	Clinical assessment
Texting tenosynovitis	Case Report	1	Clinical assessment
Textitis as seen on 18F-NaF imaging using an ultra-high resolution positron emission mammography scanner	Case Report	1	Positron emission mammography scanner
Texting tendinitis in a teenager	Case Report	1	Clinical assessment
Frequency of de Quervain's tenosynovitis and its association with SMS texting	Cross-Sectional	300	Finkelstein test and Universal Pain Assessment Tool
The association between smartphone addiction and thumb/wrist pain: A cross-sectional study	Cross-Sectional	387	SAS-SV, PRWHE questionnaire, and Finkelstein teste
Problematic smartphone use is associated with de Quervain's tenosynovitis symptomatology among young adults	Cross-Sectional	491	Finkelstein test and Experiences Related to Mobile Phone Use Questionnaire
Risk factors and clinical features of text message injuries	Cross-Sectional	28	Clinical assessment and ultrasound
Prevalence and awareness evaluation of de Quervain's tenosynovitis among students in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia	Cross-Sectional	338	Finkelstein test and duration of phone use
Mobile technology and cumulative trauma symptomology among millennials	Cross-Sectional	42	Finkelstein's test, duration of phone use
Nerve
The relationship between carpal tunnel syndrome, smartphone use, and addiction: A cross-sectional study	Cross-Sectional	404	SAS, Phalen's test, Tinel's test, electromyography
Relationship between information and communication device usage and development of hand disorders	Cross-Sectional	148	Phalen's test, Eichoff's test, duration of phone use
Changes in the thickness of median nerves due to excessive use of smartphones	Cross-Sectional	125	Ultrasound, Phalen's test, and Reverse Phalen's test
The impact of cell phone texting on superficial blood flow, touch threshold, and symptoms for individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome	Case-Control	30	Superficial blood flow, touch threshold, and clinical assessment
Does the use of electronic devices provoke the carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) symptoms and functional impairment? A cross-sectional study	Cross-Sectional	711	BCTQ
Morphological changes of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel during various finger and wrist positions: an analysis of intensive and non-intensive electronic device users	Cross-Sectional	48	Ultrasound
Clinical, electrophysiological, and ultrasound evaluation for early detection of musculoskeletal hand disorders and nerve entrapment in mobile phone users	Cross-Sectional	109	Tinel's test, Phalen's test, electrophysiological studies, ultrasound, and MHQ
The effect of carpal tunnel changes on smartphone users	Cross-Sectional	20	Ultrasound
Texting on mobile phones and musculoskeletal disorders in young adults: A five-year cohort study	Prospective Cohort	7092	Self-reported symptoms
The effect of smart phone use on the median nerve	Cross-Sectional	62	SAS, Electrophysiological assessment, VAS, DHI
Pain
Excessive texting in pathophysiology of first carpometacarpal joint arthritis	Case Report	1	Clinical assessment
Clinical and Ultrasonic evaluation of the thumb: Comparison of young adults with and without thumb pain with text messaging	Cross-Sectional	117	Ultrasound and clinical assessment
Di tou zu and musculoskeletal discomfort among them: a survey of the medical students of Peshawar	Cross-Sectional	950	SAS-SV, CHDQ
Prevalence of upper limb musculoskeletal disorders and their association with smartphone addiction and smartphone usage among university students in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the covid-19 pandemic- a cross-sectional study	Cross-Sectional	313	NMQ, SAS-SV, and IPAQ-SF
Smartphone addiction and its relation to musculoskeletal pain in Egyptian physical therapy students	Cross-Sectional	420	SAS-SV
Association between smartphone use and musculoskeletal discomfort in adolescent students	Cross-Sectional	315	Self-reported symptoms
Musculoskeletal pain and risk factors associated with smartphone use in university students	Cross-Sectional	2000	Semi-structured questionnaire
Musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremities due to extensive usage of handheld devices	Cross-Sectional	70	Clinical assessment and ultrasound
A prospective longitudinal study of mobile touch screen device use and musculoskeletal symptoms and visual health in adolescents	Prospective Longitudinal	1691	Self-reported symptoms
The relationship between smartphone addiction and musculoskeletal pain prevalence among young population: A cross-sectional study	Cross-Sectional	249	SAS and modified NMQ
The effect of smartphone addiction on hand joints in psoriatic patients: an ultrasound-based study	Cross-Sectional	52	Ultrasound
Other
Ultrasonographic evaluation of the flexor pollicis longus tendon in frequent mobile phone texters	Cross-Sectional	149	Ultrasound and clinical assessment
The effects of smartphone use on upper extremity muscle activity and pain threshold	Cross-Sectional	10	Electromyography, pressure pain threshold
Analysis of the effect of overusing thumbs on smartphone games	Cross-Sectional	12	Surface electromyography, VAS
Serum and MRI biomarkers in mobile device texting: A pilot study	Cross-Sectional	10	Serum biomarkers and magnetic resonance imaging
An epidemiological study of cell phone related injuries of the hand and wrist reported in united states emergency departments from 2011 to 2020	Prevalence	50,487	Injury prevalence
Tendon rupture associated with excessive smartphone gaming	Case Report	1	Clinical assessment
Stenosing Tenosynovitis Due to Excessive Texting in an Adolescent Girl: A Case Report.	Case Report	1	Clinical assessment

SAS-SV, Smartphone Addiction Scale – Short Version. PRWHE, Patient-Rated Wrist and Hand Evaluation. MHQ, Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire. CHDQ, Cornell Hand Discomfort Questionnaire. NMQ, Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. IPAQ-SF, International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form, BCTQ, Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire. VAS, Visual Analog Scale. DHI, Duruöz Hand Index.

The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist was utilized to assess methodological quality.¹⁷ These structured tools evaluate parameters such as the identification and handling of confounding variables, validity of outcome measures, and clarity of inclusion criteria ( Supplemental Table 1 ). Appropriate checklists were applied based on study design, including cross-sectional, case report, case-control, prevalence, prospective cohort, and longitudinal cohort studies. The majority of studies (n=31) met all or most of the criteria for methodological quality. A common limitation observed in case reports was the lack of reporting on adverse events. As a whole, there was a wide spectrum of demographic, mobile phone usage, and intervention/outcomes data; however, studies were divided into four categories based on type of injury: inflammatory (n=14), nerve pathology (n=10), pain (n=11), and other (n=7).

Inflammatory (tendinitis/tenosynovitis)

The most common inflammatory hand condition in our study was De Quervain's tenosynovitis. Four studies on de Quervain's were case reports that involved patients sending 250 to 2500 text messages per month, using a 130 gram phone for six hours, or having a recent phone size change all with resultant wrist pain.^18–21 These cases were treated conservatively with reduced phone usage, splinting, or activity modification. Another study found that patients with high mobile phone dependence, 42% of whom reported wrist/thumb pain, were more likely to have a positive Finkelstein test as their mobile use increased.²² One study utilized the smartphone addiction scale (SAS) and reported 66.4% of the cohort to qualify as “phone addicts” and 20.4% of this cohort to have pain in the thumb/wrist; however, a positive Finkelstein test was not associated with smartphone addiction.²³ This is contrary to the remaining three studies that reported Finkelstein's test as a valuable test to diagnose de Quervain's in the setting of significant mobile phone usage.^10,24,25

Furthermore, five studies focused on inflammatory-related pathology that was not classified as De Quervain's. Of these, one analyzed an individual who spent over 15 h daily with his hands in a fixed position, exhibiting a swan neck deformity of the third digit, and ultrasound findings suggesting extensor tenosynovitis of multiple digits.²⁶ Other studies have investigated patients with various presentations of hand tendinitis thought to be texting induced including tenderness when extending or abducting the thumb or wrist.^27–29 Another study utilized a positron emission mammography scanner to reveal increased uptake in the first carpometacarpal, trapezium-scaphoid, and second metacarpophalangeal joints in the setting of excessive texting; as well, bone tracer F-NaF was able to identify repetitive strain injury to the thumb.³⁰

Nerve

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) was the most common nerve pathology present in our studies. In one study involving 404 subjects, the risk of CTS symptoms increased by 29.2% when mobile phone usage increased by one hour.⁹ A study also reported that an average of five hours of mobile phone usage per day was an approximate cutoff for median nerve impact.³¹ Another study determined that Phalen's test and reverse Phalen's tests occurred in a statistically significant shorter amount of time in subjects with the highest duration of mobile phone use.³² Others reported that there is no significant association between hand dominance and carpal tunnel syndrome development in frequent texters, though a significant association was observed with younger age, females, and high BMI.³³ In a study examining the effect of phone use on those with carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis compared to those without, those with CTS had a 53% increase in touch threshold at baseline which increased even further following a texting task. Additionally, this threshold did not return to baseline even after 10 min.³⁴

Furthermore, a subset of studies examined median nerve pathology, but not in the context of carpal tunnel syndrome. Three studies investigated the median nerve's cross-sectional area or circumference, revealing an increase associated with texting.^35–37 Additionally, one study tracked over 2000 texters for a five-year period and found that individuals without symptoms at baseline were more prone to developing hand paresthesia.³⁸ A study concentrated on median nerve function, noting that infrequent texters exhibited faster motor and sensory conduction than frequent texters.³⁹

Pain

Hand pain was the primary outcome analyzed in 11 studies. In patients with and without psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory changes were observed on ultrasound of hand joints when mobile phone addiction was present.⁴⁰ A case report highlighted a patient with arthritis of the first carpometacarpal joint requiring excision arthroplasty following more than three years of significant mobile phone use.⁴¹ One study evaluating 117 students who sent up to 200 texts per day had statistically significant results for metacarpophalangeal and carpometacarpal joint pain, measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale.⁴² A different study reported that in 950 students who utilized mobile phones frequently, discomfort in the thenar area was most common.⁴³ Three studies concluded that an SAS-SV score indicating phone addiction was significantly correlated with hand-related pain, particularly in the setting of more than six hours of phone use.^44–46

Moreover, a study reported a significant relationship between the amount of mobile phone use and the number of body parts with musculoskeletal discomfort, with the 1–3 hours of texting group experiencing the highest level of discomfort.⁴⁷ Another study investigated characteristics of phone usage and concluded that the size of a smartphone was the strongest predictor of musculoskeletal pain, and 17.45% of 2000 students reported site-specific thumb pain.⁴⁸ Additionally, 70 patients with extensive handheld device usage were retrospectively analyzed and 100% reported thumb pain with correlation present between hand dominance and musculoskeletal disorder.⁴⁹ Conversely, a prospective study that evaluated 1691 students assessed at baseline and one-year follow-up reported no statistically significant dose-response relationship between smartphone use duration and musculoskeletal symptoms.⁵⁰

Other

The studies that did not fall into previous categories were grouped together. Muscle function was one area of exploration and in two studies, the flexor pollicis longus was found to be hypertrophied or with higher muscle activity in one-handed texters.^51,52 Similarly, using median frequency as an indicator of muscle fatigue, abductor pollicis brevis and extensor pollicis brevis were found to be fatigued at a significantly higher rate following mobile phone use.⁵³ Additionally, inflammatory biomarkers such as TNF-RI were investigated and found to be elevated in frequent texters.⁵⁴ Another study focused on mobile phone-related injuries in over 50,000 patients, with falls being the most common mechanism of injury followed by phone repair injuries and texting.⁵⁵

Moreover, two case reports highlight less common, but significant injuries associated with texting. One study detailed a patient who engaged in all-day mobile phone video gaming for six to eight weeks, resulting in tendon rupture.⁵⁶ Another study described a case of trigger finger in the setting of sending 8507 texts per month.⁵⁷

Discussion

This systematic review of 42 studies, encompassing over 67,000 participants, aimed to characterize the spectrum of surgically relevant hand pathologies associated with mobile phone use. Our findings successfully address this objective by identifying a consistent pattern of conditions linked to repetitive strain from device usage. De Quervain's tenosynovitis and CTS were the most frequently reported conditions, linked to repetitive thumb and wrist strain and prolonged device use. Pain syndromes, particularly in the thumb and thenar areas, were commonly reported and correlated with phone addiction and usage duration. Less frequent but notable pathologies, including tendon ruptures and trigger finger, were also reported. These findings confirm that habitual mobile phone use can lead to musculoskeletal strain injuries, some of which may progress to require surgical evaluation or intervention.

Our findings align with and build upon previous systematic reviews examining musculoskeletal complaints associated with mobile phone use. Similar to Zirek et al., who identified pain as the most frequently reported symptom and tendinitis as the most common pathology, our review found that inflammatory conditions, particularly De Quervain's tenosynovitis, were the most prevalent diagnoses, especially among frequent texters.¹⁶ However, in contrast to prior reviews that emphasized general discomfort or early-stage symptoms, our analysis focused on conditions with potential surgical implications, such as tendon ruptures and advanced carpal tunnel syndrome. This highlights the potential severity of cumulative strain injuries related to mobile phone use. Additionally, while Cao et al. broadly categorized the risk of chronic disorders associated with improper phone use, including wrist-related complaints, our review builds upon this framework by providing a more detailed breakdown of specific diagnoses, clinical signs (e.g., Finkelstein's test), and diagnostic modalities (e.g., EMG, ultrasound, nerve conduction testing), thereby enhancing the clinical and occupational applicability of these findings.⁵⁸

Several studies, including those by Mersal et al. and Yaghmour et al., have reported associations between texting frequency and tendinopathy or pain.^15,59 Our review complements and expands on these observations by offering a more nuanced synthesis of device use patterns in relation to pathology type. For example, although Yaghmour et al. did not find a significant association between hours of device use and carpal tunnel syndrome, our analysis identified studies reporting an increased risk of CTS with longer daily usage, particularly beyond five hours per day.¹⁵ Differences in population demographics, gender distribution, and diagnostic criteria may contribute to this variability. Our review further highlights female gender, younger age, and higher BMI as consistent risk factors, consistent with Mersal et al.'s findings of higher complaint rates among female users.⁵⁹ While studies like Bruyneel and Duclos emphasize injury risk during mobile use while walking, our findings demonstrate that sedentary, repetitive device use alone can produce clinically significant injuries.⁶⁰

Taken together, these findings contribute to the occupational health and rehabilitation literature by identifying mobile phone use as a modifiable risk factor for conditions such as De Quervain's tenosynovitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. These findings highlight the importance of early recognition and intervention, particularly in work environments where prolonged mobile device use is common. The synthesis of usage patterns—such as daily use exceeding specific thresholds—offers actionable benchmarks for developing ergonomic guidelines and workplace preventive strategies. By contextualizing these conditions within a framework of occupational exposure and cumulative strain, this review advances current understanding and supports targeted clinical assessments and interventions to mitigate long-term disability.

Several limitations warrant consideration. As a systematic review of studies with varied methodologies, populations, and outcome measures, the findings reflect a heterogeneous dataset. This variability limits the ability to draw statistically robust conclusions. Additionally, few of the included studies offered longitudinal follow-up, restricting insights into the long-term biomechanical consequences of mobile phone use. Despite these limitations, the convergence of key themes across studies suggests that the identified pathologies represent a credible and emerging area of concern for both medical and surgical practitioners.

Future research should prioritize longitudinal cohort and intervention studies using standardized outcome measures to clarify causality and evaluate preventive strategies. Mechanistic studies exploring the pathophysiology of mobile phone-related hand injuries could further elucidate underlying processes. Furthermore, given the increasing integration of mobile technologies into occupational settings, our findings highlight the need for employer education, ergonomic policy implementation, and occupational surveillance programs targeting mobile device–related musculoskeletal risk.

Conclusion

With mobile phone use continuing to increase across all age groups, its potential association with hand pathologies of surgical relevance is an emerging area of clinical and occupational interest. This systematic review identified common conditions, including De Quervain's tenosynovitis and carpal tunnel syndrome, that may be linked to prolonged or repetitive device use. Occupational health practitioners and employers should consider incorporating mobile device use assessments into routine screenings and promote ergonomic training to reduce cumulative strain injuries.

Supplemental Material

sj-docx-1-wor-10.1177_10519815261421502 - Supplemental material for Hand injuries associated with mobile phone use: A systematic review

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-wor-10.1177_10519815261421502 for Hand injuries associated with mobile phone use: A systematic review by Savannah C Braud, Melinda J Choi, Kyle Y Xu and Kashyap Komarraju Tadisina in WORK

Supplemental Material

sj-xlsx-2-wor-10.1177_10519815261421502 - Supplemental material for Hand injuries associated with mobile phone use: A systematic review

Supplemental material, sj-xlsx-2-wor-10.1177_10519815261421502 for Hand injuries associated with mobile phone use: A systematic review by Savannah C Braud, Melinda J Choi, Kyle Y Xu and Kashyap Komarraju Tadisina in WORK

Footnotes

Acknowledgements

Not applicable.

Ethical approval

This systematic review involved only previously published literature and did not include new data from human participants, human tissue, or identifiable personal information. Therefore, ethical approval was not required.

Informed consent

Not applicable.

Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Declaration of conflicting interests

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Data availability statement

This study is a systematic review of previously published literature. No new data were generated or analyzed during this study. Therefore, data sharing is not applicable.

Supplemental material

Supplemental material for this article is available online.

ORCID iD

Savannah C Braud

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