Experience on the reversibility of the vibration-induced white finger disease.
In connection with medical appraisements of the occupational disease No. 2104 "Vibration-induced vasospastic disease" 240 patients could be examined a first time, 94 of them a second time, 42 patients a third time and 11 patients a forth time. The interval between examinations was 2, 4 or 6 years respectively. The standard procedure besides clinical whole body examination included anamnestic questionnaire, cold-provocation test with infrared thermography and vibrotactile perception test. The evaluation of the diagnoses in principle followed the Stockholm vascular V and sensorineural SN stages and was used to establish the grade of disability for compensation. The re-examinations after 2-6 years gave information on the development of the health status after cessation of vibration exposure. In only about 54% of all cases there was any improvement, in 39% the health status was unchanged, in 7% aggravated. It is obvious that the reversibility of the VWF if any needs many years abstaining from vibration exposure.
Dupuis
H
H
Institute of Occupational Health and Social Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
Riedel
S
S
D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005385:Fingers; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects*