[Angiologic, neurologic and orthopedic findings in vibration exposed chain saw operators]

The present study was designed to evaluate and correlate angiological, neurological and orthopaedic findings in lumberjacks, professionally exposed to vibration by chain-saws with a frequency of 40 to 120 Herz. Raynaud's phenomenon was diagnosed in 16 of 33 subjects. The nerve conduction velocity was delayed in 13 of 32 lumberjacks, the sulcus nervus ulnaris syndrome was diagnosed in 41%, the vibration threshold was abnormal in 10/32 cases. Orthopaedic examination and X-ray studies revealed spondylotic (59%) and spondyloarthritic (65%) alterations of the cervical spine; cysts in bones of the distal upper extremities were observed in 75% of cases. Frequency and severity of angiological, neurological, and orthopaedic pathological findings correlated with the total chain-saw operating time. However, there was no correlation between the presence of digital vascular hyperreactivity and the sulcus nervus ulnaris syndrome or changes in nerve conduction velocity.