A prospective study of the cold response of digital vessels in forestry workers exposed to saw vibration

Abstract

The findings of this follow-up study indicate that a reduction in or cessation of exposure to vibration has a beneficial effect on finger-blanching symptoms and the cold response of digital vessels. The occurrence of new cases of VWF in subjects whose work experience was limited to AV chain saws argues for the maintenance of health surveillance in these workers.

A follow up study of vascular disorders in vibration-exposed forestry workers

“…improvement) averaged about 3% per year of removal from vibration exposure. This finding is consistent with those of the few studies which monitored the natural course of VWF by means of a standardised cold test with measurement of FSBP (Bovenzi et al 1998;Cherniack et al 2000;Olsen and Nielsen 1988;Petersen et al 1995). In these studies, cessation of vibration exposure was associated with an amelioration of the cold response of the digital arteries in the retired workers.…”

“…The regression coefficients for the prevalent and incident cases of vibration-induced white finger (VWF) are estimated with reference to the forestry workers with never VWF a A(8): 8-h energy-equivalent frequency-weighted acceleration magnitude workers with previous exposure to hand-transmitted vibration (Bovenzi et al 1998;Olsen and Nielsen 1988). In the retired VWF workers of this study, there was an aggravation of VWF score before their retirement (i.e.…”

“…Continued use of vibratory tools is associated with a deterioration of vasospastic symptoms and an unfavourable prognosis for VWF workers (Bovenzi et al 1998;Olsen and Nielsen 1988;Petersen et al 1995). On the other hand, there is clinical and epidemiological evidence for an improvement of VWF after reduction or cessation of exposure to handtransmitted vibration (HTV) (Bovenzi et al 1998;Koskimies et al 1992;Olsen and Nielsen 1988;Petersen et al 1995).…”

“…Only a few investigators have monitored the course of VWF by means of objective laboratory tests, in addition to health history (Bovenzi et al 1998;Cherniack et al 2000;Ekenvall and Carlson 1987;Olsen and Nielsen 1988;Petersen et al 1995). Among the various cold provocation testing methods used to disclose finger blanching, the measurement of finger systolic blood pressure (FSBP) during a standardised cooling procedure is currently considered a reliable laboratory method to confirm objectively a history of VWF (Bovenzi 2002).…”

Assessment of autonomic nervous activity in hand-arm vibration syndrome patients using time- and frequency-domain analyses of heart rate variation

“…It has been shown in some epidemiological studies that symptoms of VWF may reverse if vibration exposure is reduced or ceased [4,8,10]. Subjective improvements in the extent and frequency of ®nger-blanching attacks or complete remissions of vascular complaints have been reported in both active and retired forestry workers [10,18,20].…”