Medial plantar nerve conduction velocities among patients with vibration syndrome due to chain-saw work

Objective: The present study examined the effect of the vibration syndrome (VS) on the peripheral nervous system in the lower extremities. Methods: Th irty-eight patients with VS due to previous exposure to vibration from chai n-saw work and 55 age-matched controls were examined for sensory nerve cond uction velocities in the medial plantar nerve (SCV-P). The patient group wa s divided into two subgroups, one with (n = 19) and the other without vibra tion-induced white finger (VWF; n = 19). Results: Analysis of variance of S CV-P for the three groups showed significant difference (F-2,F-89 = 10.65, P < 0.0001). A significant difference was found between the controls and th e VWF+ group (P < 0.0001) but not between the controls and the VWF- group ( P = 0.0508) by multiple comparison using Scheffe's method. Conclusion: Thes e findings suggest that VS affects the peripheral nervous system function i n the lower extremities via mediation of circulatory disturbance manifested as VWF.