Medial plantar nerve conduction velocities among patients with vibration syndrome due to chain-saw work.

OBJECTIVE

The present study examined the effect of the vibration syndrome (VS) on the peripheral nervous system in the lower extremities.

METHODS

Thirty-eight patients with VS due to previous exposure to vibration from chain-saw work and 55 age-matched controls were examined for sensory nerve conduction velocities in the medial plantar nerve (SCV-P). The patient group was divided into two subgroups, one with (n=19) and the other without vibration-induced white finger (VWF; n=19).

RESULTS

Analysis of variance of SCV-P for the three groups showed significant difference (F(2,89)=10.65, P < 0.0001). A significant difference was found between the controls and the VWF(+) group (P < 0.0001) but not between the controls and the VWF(-) group (P=0.0508) by multiple comparison using Scheffe's method.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that VS affects the peripheral nervous system function in the lower extremities via mediation of circulatory disturbance manifested as VWF.