[Vestibular function in female transport workers with cervical osteochondrosis]

A complex study was carried out on the vestibular disorders in 60 transport workers with cervical osteochondrosis in order to determine their incidence and character. The workers' age was from 20 to 60 and a length of service as drivers of transport vehicles - from 3 to 16 and even more years. The vestibular system was studied with regard to spontaneous nystagmic manifestations, the state of stato-kinetics, via experimental rotation and caloric provocations. Changes were observed in space-time perception after the provocation, rheographic hemodynamic changes and serum-biochemical deviations in organism. With the X-ray studies on the cervical segment of the spine, various manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis were found in 40.3 per cent of the subjects observed. The predominating changes were in the region of C4-C7 (in 29.2%). Two-three segpents were affected in the majority of the patients. Uncovertebral arthorosis, narrowing of the intervertebral foramina were found as well as osteophytes of the bodies of the vertebrae, etc. Those manifestations correlated with the vestibular disorders of the respective side, confirmed via rheography (bi- and fronto-mastoid). The vestibular deviations were reduced to dynamic ataxia - positive Romberg test (75.8%), deviations in the gait (57.9%), tendency to hyperreflexia, particularly for the horizontal-rotatory substrates of the vestibular analyzers. The vestibular dysfunction was clearly outlined with the juxtaposition of the data with those of the control group of subjects selected from the patients with functional deviations. Valuable conclusions were drawn concerning the medical-occupational fitness of the transport workers as well as concerning traffic safety.