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

M. Hirata, H. Sakakibara, S. Yamada, T. Hashiguchi, N. Toibana, H. Koshiyama and H. Hirano

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Abstract

Objective: The present study examined the effect of the vibration syndrome (VS) on the peripheral nervous system in the lower extremities. Methods: Thirty-eight patients with VS due to previous exposure to vibration from chain-saw work and 55 age-matched controls were examined for sensory nerve conduction velocities in the medial plantar nerve (SCV-P). The patient group was divided into two subgroups, one with (n=19) and the other without vibration-induced white finger (VWF; n=19). Results: Analysis of variance of SCV-P for the three groups showed significant difference (F 2,89=10.65, P < 0.0001). A significant difference was found between the controls and the 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: These findings suggest that VS affects the peripheral nervous system function in the lower extremities via mediation of circulatory disturbance manifested as VWF.

Key words Vibration syndrome - Chain-saw operator - Vibration-induced white finger - Sensory nerve conduction velocity - Medial plantar nerve

Received: 7 May 1998 / Accepted: 15 June 1999

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