Specific features of vibration-induced disorders

Assessment of the specific clinical manifestations of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) or whole-body vibration syndrome (WBVS).

Seventy-six patients (34 with HAVS and 33 with WBVS) were examined analysing the data from their medical history, clinical examinations and autonomic nervous system study, capillaroscopy, distal Doppler ultrasound study, vibrotactile sense, roentgenography, and electromyography.

HAVS manifests mainly in the upper limbs as microcirculatory disturbances: RR 2.59; 95% CI (1.64-4.10), Raynaud's syndrome: RR 16.50; 95% CI (2.33-117.04), increased vascular resistance in the digital arteries of the hands: RR 9.71; 95% CI (3.28-28.75); distal autonomic neuropathy of the upper limbs: RR 15.04; 95% CI (3.91-57.88); sensory polyneuropathy predominantly of the upper limbs: RR 21.00; 95% CI (3.01-146.57); median neuropathy: RR 14.56; 95% CI (2.04-104.06); cervical spondylosis with/without osteochondrosis: RR 2.09; 95% CI (1.33-3.28). In patients with WBVS we observed predominantly degenerative changes of the lumbar spine segment: RR 2.49; 95% CI (1.55-3.99); lumbosacral radicular symptoms: RR 8.53; 95% CI (3.73-19.52).

Dose-dependant, microcirculatory, peripheral vascular, peripheral nerve and musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limbs were found in HAVS and musculoskeletal and peripheral nerve injuries of the spine and the lower limbs were found in WBVS.