Short Communication

Does Overpressure in the Workplace Influence the Development of Vibration-Induced Osteoarticular Lesions of the Upper Limbs?

Tibor Kákosy1, László Németh1, Marianna Lászlóffy1, and Balázs Hazay2

1 National Institute of Occupational Health, Fodor József National Centre for Public Health, Budapest, Hungary
2 No I. Occupational Health Ltd., Budapest, Hungary

Corresponding author: Tibor Kákosy, M. D., Ph. D.
    National Institute of Occupational Health,
    P.O. Box 22
    H-1450 Budapest, Hungary
    Telephone: (+36) 1-215-1386
    E-mail address: ncph.elender.hu

CEJOEM 2002, Vol.8. No.1.:44–48


Key words:
Overpressure, vibration, aseptic bone necrosis, upper limbs

Abbreviations:
HAVS = Hand-arm vibration syndrome
HRCT = High resolution computed tomography
DD = Decompression disease
OA = Osteoarticular


Abstract:
In order to clarify the effect of workplace overpressure of 1.0–2.4 bar in the development of vibration-induced osteoarticular damages of the upper extremities detectable in radiographs, a group of 30 caisson miners was investigated and compared to 30 coal miners working under normal atmospheric pressure. The subjects were match-paired to sex, age and duration of exposure and examined applying the same protocol. The only difference between the two groups was a sixfold lower occurrence of aseptic carpal bone necrosis among the caisson miners, suggesting that the workplace overpressure may exert a potential protective effect against the vibration-induced aseptic bone necrosis. The confirmation of this observation and the explanation of its mechanism require further investigation.


Received:  12 February 2002
Accepted:  24 April 2002

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