Follow-up Study of Patients with Vibration Syndrome in Japan

• Published in: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment ＆ Health Vol. 12; no. 4; pp. 313 - 319
• Main Authors: Nasu, Yoshiro, Ishida, Kazuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Finland Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment ＆ Health 01.08.1986; National Board of Occupational Safety and Health; The Working Environment Fund; Swedish Medical Society, Section for Environmental Health; Work Research Institutes; Institute of Occupational Health
• Subjects: Epidemiologic aspects of vibration syndrome; Fingers; Fingers - blood supply; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Hypesthesia; Japan; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - therapy; Occupations; Pain perception; Paresthesia - epidemiology; Paresthesia - etiology; Peripheral nerves; Provocation defense; Raynaud disease; Raynaud Disease - epidemiology; Raynaud Disease - etiology; Raynaud Disease - therapy; Retrospective Studies; Sensation; Skin temperature; Syndrome; Vibration; Vibration - adverse effects; Wrist; Japan; limitation of improvement; musculoskeletal disturbance; peripheral circulatory disturbance; peripheral nerve disturbance
• ISSN: 0355-3140; 1795-990X
• DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.2137

This study was performed on 187 patients with vibration syndrome treated and followed for more than five years in 10 hospitals in Japan. The subjects had disturbances of circulation and sensation in their fingers and of joint movements in their upper extremities. Most of the patients received treatment combining physical and drug therapy. Data were analyzed to determine the effective treatment period for improving the disturbances. The blanching attack (Raynaud's phenomenon) and abnormal cold and tingling sensations in the fingers were significantly improved only during the first two years of treatment. A temperature test and plethysmography suggested improvement in finger circulation only during the first three years and one year of treatment, respectively. Spontaneous numbness and pain in the fingers did not improve. The pin-prick and vibratory sensations showed recovery only during the first three and two years of treatment, respectively. Lowered conduction velocities cf the ulnar and median nerves improved only during the first year. Limited movements in the wrist and elbow joints did not improve at all despite long-term treatment. Similar results were seen in an overall evaluation of the data. It was concluded that there is a limitation in the treatment of disturbances related to the vibration syndrome.