Clinical Features and Laboratory Findings of Vibration Disease: A Review of 300 Cases

Abstract

The clinical features and laboratory findings of 300 inpatients with vibration disease before and after treatments were reviewed. Having used chain saws or pneumatic hammers for a long period, the patients were afflicted with Raynaud''s phenomemon, numbness, pain or stiffness of fingers, pain of elbows and neck and stiffness of shoulders and lumbago. They had a high incidence of complaints due to CNS disorders, especially of the higher autonomic nervous system; i.e., headache (52.0%), palmar hyperhidrosis (70.0%), forgetfulness (78.2%), fatiguability (61.3%), tinnitus (41.8%), impotence (55.1%), etc. Laboratory findings of the autonomic nerve activity tests, EEG and audiograms also suggested the disorder of the CNS. Treatments for 3 mo. significantly improved the subjective symptoms and the objective findings (P < 0.05-0.001). Vibration disease should be considered as a systemic disease, including disorders of the CNS, especially of the higher autonomic nervous system, and disturbances of the peripheral functions.