title: Assessment of central and peripheral nerve functions in chain-saw operators: a study of short-latency somatosensory evoked potential and peripheral nerve conduction.
abstract: In order to clarify the effects of local vibration on the peripheral and central nervous system, peripheral (median) nerve conduction velocities and short-latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) following stimulation of the median nerve at the wrist were measured in 15 male forest workers in 1986. They had engaged in chain-saw operation for 16-34 (mean 22) years; their working days in 1985 averaged 124 days with a range of 50-203 days. The results indicated significant delays in maximal motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities followed by prolongation of all 4 peak latencies of SSEP up to the sensory cortex of the brain (N9, N13, N20 and P23 latencies) in chain-saw operators; their N9 and P23 latencies were significantly correlated with total working days per year. On the other hand, no significant prolongation of the interpeak latencies of SSEP (i.e., cervico-spinobulbar and central conduction times) was found in the workers. It is concluded that local vibration predominantly affects peripheral nerve conduction; cervico-spinobulbar and central nerve conduction may not be significantly affected.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects*