OSTEOMETRIC DIMENSIONS OF METACARPAL BONES WITH RESPECT TO THE PROFESSIONAL EXPOSURE TO VIBRATION

The comparative analysis of the osteometric dimensions of metacarpal b ones in three groups of males (aged from 23 to 63 years) differing wit h respect to the presence of the professionally connected Long-term ex posure to the vibration is performed. The sample encompasses forest wo rkers employed in wood industry (exposed to heavy physical work and to the daily use of hand-held vibrating tools) from two regions of Croat ia: Podravina (n = 192) and Gorski Kotar (n = 115). The control group is formed using the random sample (selected according to age criterion ) of phenotypicaly healthy merle inhabitants of rural communities of E astern Adriatic islands and peninsula (n = 200). Additionally, the inf luence of the level of calcium in, diet, as a regional nutritional cha racteristic of particular regions of Croatia, is also considered. The regression of the percent cortical area (PCA) of the second left metac arpal bone and age showed that significant decrease of PCA in. older a ge can be observed only in males from Eastern Adriatic (the control gr oup), while that is not so in either group of males professionally exp osed to vibration. Authors conclude that the analysis of the osteometr ic dimensions performed on, males professionally daily exposed to vibr ation missed to provide evidence to support the hypothesis of long-ter m exposure to vibration as a risk for accelerated osteoporosis of meta carpal bones.