Hand-arm vibration syndrome on tunnel-miners

Tibor Kákosy, László Németh, Balázs Hazay1, Mária Posgay, János Martin and Marianna Lászlóffy

National Institute of Occupational Health, Budapest, Hungary
1 First Limited Company of Occupational Health, Budapest, Hungary
 
Corresponding author: Tibor Kákosy, M.D., Ph.D.
National Institute of Occupational Health
1096 Nagyvárad tér 2. Budapest, Hungary

CEJOEM 1998, Vol.4. No.1.:91-98

Key words:
Hand-arm vibration syndrome, tunnel-miners, Raynaud’s phenomenon, tunnel syndromes, osteo-articular changes, clinical picture, prevention, screening tests.

Abbreviations:
PT = cold-provocation test
HAVE = hand-arm vibration exposure
HAVS = hand-arm vibration syndrome
Rph = Raynaud’s phenomenon
TOS = thoracic outlet syndrome
tm = tunnel-miner 


Abstract:
Authors examined 51 tunnel-miners because of suspicion of hand-arm vibration syndrome. Vibration measurements were also performed on the drilling hammer used by the workers. The acceleration of the vibration exceeded 2.5–3.5 times the maximum allowable level according to the guideline ISO 5349. Symptoms and signs referring to hand-arm vibration syndrome were found in 42 cases. (82.3%). X-ray alterations of bones and joints were detected in 28 patients (54.9%). In addition of degenerative changes (25 cases; 49%) also aseptic necroses were rather frequent (8 cases; 15.7%). Vascular damage was shown in 27 patients (54.0%), but peripheral neurological injury in 18/37 cases (48.6%). The rather common occurrence of damages of bones and joints and tunnel syndromes respectively can be explained probably in additon to the vibration also by the high physical stress required by this profession. 

Received: 3 November 1997
Accepted: 24 February 1998 
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Posted: 15 November 1998