Objective: The aim of the study was to assess peripheral neural involvement induced by exposure to hand-arm vibration. Methods: Twenty lumberjacks, working regularly with chain-saws and exposed to hand-arm vibration (group E) and 20 forestry workers performing heavy manual work and not exposed to vibration (group NE) were matched with a control group of 20 healthy non-manual workers (group C). The subjects of groups E and NE, all symptomatic, and of group C underwent extensive bilateral neurophysiological examination consisting of sensory conduction (velocity and amplitude) of radial, median and ulnar nerves in digit-wrist segments; sensory conduction (velocity) of median nerve in wrist-elbow segment; mixed conduction (velocity and amplitude) of median and ulnar nerves in palm-wrist segments; motor conduction velocity, including distal motor latencies, and amplitude of median (elbow-wrist) and ulnar (elbow-wrist and across the elbow) nerves. Results: Electrophysiological abnormalities were found in 85% of group E's limbs, versus 62.5% of group NE's limbs. The most frequent pathological pattern in group E was a 'multifocal' impairment (multiple sites of several nerve segments), with a prevalent involvement of sensory rather than motor fibres in the hand, seldom extending to the forearm. Multivariate analysis showed that the neurographic parameters which better characterized workers exposed to hand-arm vibration had a pattern different from that usually found in idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Conclusion: These results suggest that vibration-induced neural involvement can be considered neither pure digital neuropathy, nor definite CTS, as previously described.

Giannini, F., Rossi, S., Passero, S., Bovenzi, M., Cannava, G., Mancini, R., et al. (1999). Multifocal neural conduction impairment in forestry workers exposed and not exposed to vibration. CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY, 110(7), 1276-1283 [10.1016/S1388-2457(99)00062-0].

Multifocal neural conduction impairment in forestry workers exposed and not exposed to vibration

GIANNINI F.;ROSSI S.;PASSERO S.;CIONI R.;BATTISTINI N.
1999-01-01

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess peripheral neural involvement induced by exposure to hand-arm vibration. Methods: Twenty lumberjacks, working regularly with chain-saws and exposed to hand-arm vibration (group E) and 20 forestry workers performing heavy manual work and not exposed to vibration (group NE) were matched with a control group of 20 healthy non-manual workers (group C). The subjects of groups E and NE, all symptomatic, and of group C underwent extensive bilateral neurophysiological examination consisting of sensory conduction (velocity and amplitude) of radial, median and ulnar nerves in digit-wrist segments; sensory conduction (velocity) of median nerve in wrist-elbow segment; mixed conduction (velocity and amplitude) of median and ulnar nerves in palm-wrist segments; motor conduction velocity, including distal motor latencies, and amplitude of median (elbow-wrist) and ulnar (elbow-wrist and across the elbow) nerves. Results: Electrophysiological abnormalities were found in 85% of group E's limbs, versus 62.5% of group NE's limbs. The most frequent pathological pattern in group E was a 'multifocal' impairment (multiple sites of several nerve segments), with a prevalent involvement of sensory rather than motor fibres in the hand, seldom extending to the forearm. Multivariate analysis showed that the neurographic parameters which better characterized workers exposed to hand-arm vibration had a pattern different from that usually found in idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Conclusion: These results suggest that vibration-induced neural involvement can be considered neither pure digital neuropathy, nor definite CTS, as previously described.
1999
Giannini, F., Rossi, S., Passero, S., Bovenzi, M., Cannava, G., Mancini, R., et al. (1999). Multifocal neural conduction impairment in forestry workers exposed and not exposed to vibration. CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY, 110(7), 1276-1283 [10.1016/S1388-2457(99)00062-0].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11365/9577
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