HAND PROBLEMS IN 100 VIBRATION-EXPOSED SYMPTOMATIC MALE WORKERS

Long-term use of hand-held vibrating tools may induce various types of hand problems. One hundred symptomatic men exposed to vibration from such tools were interviewed and examined with special reference to neu rosensory and vasospastic problems. Three distinct symptomatic groups were identified: isolated neurosensory symptoms (48%), isolated vasosp astic problems (20%), and combined neurosensory and vasospastic proble ms (32%). Abnormal cold intolerance (pain and coldness without blanchi ng of the fingers on exposure to cold) occurred in 27% of the patients . Neurosensory problems were more predominant than vasospastic ones, e specially during the first 20 years of vibration exposure. Of 80 patie nts with neurosensory symptoms, only 22 had signs of a carpal tunnel s yndrome (CTS), It is concluded that vibration-induced neurosensory and vasospastic symptoms can occur separately or together, and that the n eurosensory symptoms are often not due to a CTS.