Perfusion defects in vibration white finger: a clinical assessment using isotope limb blood flow.

Vibration white finger is a vasospastic disorder caused by long-term exposure to vibration tools. In an attempt to assess the extent of obliterative vessel disease in this disorder, hyperaemic hand blood flow was measured using technetium-labelled human albumin and a gamma camera. This method quantitates blood flow in ml/100 ml of tissue per min in addition to providing a perfusion image used to assess vessel disease. A perfusion score is then given to this image to reflect the extent of disease. The results of this study demonstrate that 78% of patients with vibration white finger had evidence of organic vessel disease. Moreover, patients with advanced disease tend to be bilaterally affected. The use of this simple method is advocated to aid in the diagnosis of vibration white finger; this may be particularly important for medicolegal purposes.