[Nerve conduction in vibratory disease]

Sensory and motor nerve conduction velocities in median and ulnar nerves of both upper limbs were examined in 30 forest-workers, felling trees with the aid of the mechanical saws, and demonstrating symptoms and signs of vibratory disease. A distinct decrease of the conduction velocity of sensory fibres and reduction of the nerve action potential amplitude of the examined nerves were found in these patients in comparison with the control group. Mean motor conduction velocity and distal motor latency of both nerves were included in the norm. No relationship occurs between the length of the work, time and the degree of the disorder of the sensory nerve conduction. The degree of the lesion of sensory fibres depends more on an individual susceptibility than on the length of the work time of workers exposed to local vibration.