title: Affected segments of the median nerve detected by fractionated nerve conduction measurement in vibration-induced neuropathy.
abstract: Peripheral neuropathy in the hand has often been reported in workers using hand-held vibrating tools. But the affected location in the hand is not clearly demonstrated. To elucidate the impaired segment of the median nerve within the hand, fractionated median sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) was measured in the digital, finger-to-palm, palm-to-wrist and wrist-to-elbow segments. Subjects were 56 patients with hand-arm vibration syndrome and 43 healthy controls of similar age. SCV in the digital and the wrist-to-palm segments was significantly slower in the patients than the controls. Slowed SCV in the digital segment was encountered in 36% of the patients, while the slowing in SCV in the wrist-to-palm segment (across the carpal tunnel) was found in 20% of them. The slowing in the digital segment was more frequently encountered in the advanced stage of the Stockholm sensorineural (SN) stage for hand-arm vibration syndrome: 10% in 0SN (no neurological symptoms) while 56% in 3SN (severe stage). The present study has demonstrated that vibration-induced nerve impairments dominantly exist both in the digits and across the carpal tunnel. Careful neurophysiological assessment is important to confirm the impaired location within the hand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakakibara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hashiguchi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Toibana
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koshiyama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005385:Fingers / Q000294:innervation; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects*