ASSOCIATION BETWEEN A QUANTITATIVE MEASURE OF TACTILE ACUITY AND HANDSYMPTOMS REPORTED BY OPERATORS OF POWER TOOLS

An association between a quantitative measure of tactile acuity at the fingertips and symptoms of reduced manipulative function, as establis hed by responses to a questionnaire, was demonstrated in a population of 81 manual workers from the mining industry (62 power-tool operators and 19 nonusers). Mechanoreceptor-specific vibrotactile thresholds we re determined for the slowly adapting type I (SAI) and fast-adapting t ypes I and II (FAI and FAII) receptors at the fingertip of the third d igit of each hand. Statistically significant threshold shifts in SAI a nd/or FAII acuity were found in persons responding affirmatively to qu estions concerning finger/ hand numbness, blanching, and difficulty bu ttoning clothing. The best predictors of a quantitative change in tact ile acuity were questions relating to difficulty manipulating small ob jects and buttoning clothing, yielding positive predictive values of f rom 90% to 100% and false positive rates of from 0% to 2.8%. The demon stration of an association between a quantitative measure of tactile a cuity at the fingertips and some symptom reports, obtained by means of a questionnaire, provides the basis for the development of a screenin g procedure for persons at risk of such disturbances in hand function.