[Pathology of the nervous system in vibration disease].

Along with study of the working conditions and physiological parameters in operators of excavators and drilling rigs the author conducted clinico-physiological examination of 42 patients with vibration disease (VD) developing as a result of exposure to general vibration. Findings were obtained indicative of damage to various components of the central and peripheral nervous system characteristic of angiodystonic syndromes of the cerebroperipheral form and the syndrome of vegetative-sensory polyneuropathy with polyradicular disorders or the syndrome of neurasthenia. EEG revealed irregularity and disorganization of alpha-rhythm, as well as the absence of the zonal distribution of rhythms. REG revealed reduced pulse blood filling of the major cerebral vessels and impairment of their elastic-tonic properties. EMG showed both a low amplitude of oscillations and an interfering nature of the bioelectrical activity of muscles. The data obtained have helped to specify the clinical picture of VD in operators of excavators and drilling rigs which may help to improve the differential diagnosis.