Segmental nerve conduction velocity in vibration-exposed shipyard workers.
OBJECTIVE
Segmental sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) was measured from the wrists to the hands and digits of a population of vibration-exposed shipyard workers. This study was designed to investigate whether SNCV was selectively slowed in the fingers and whether a laboratory approach could be adapted for robust field use.


METHODS
Wrist-palm, palm-proximal digit, and digital segments were determined from stimulation at the wrist with recording electrodes placed distally and adjusted to individual anatomy. The cohort was selected on the basis of current use of vibratory tools.


RESULTS
Wrist-palm and digital segments were slower than palm-proximal digit segments for dominant and non-dominant hands and for both ulnar and median nerves. In the dominant-hand median nerve of participants with current exposure, the SNCV was 41.4 m/s (SD 8.0) for the wrist-palm segment, 50.8 (SD 9.5) for the palm segment, and 42.1 m/s (SD 9.3) for the digital segment. Temperature had an important effect on nerve conduction velocity but not equally across segments. Other explanatory variables had modest effect on SNCV.


CONCLUSIONS
Reduced SNCV in the digits may be a consequence of industrial exposure to vibration. Each sensory nerve segment appeared to have a different characteristic velocity and different pattern of association with skin temperature. There are differences between median and ulnar nerve segments, with potentially important consequences when standard distances are used to assess wrist-digit velocity.
Ergonomics Technology Center, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue-MC6210, Farmington, Connecticut 06030-6210, USA. cherniack@nso.uchc.edu
M
M
Cherniack
A J
AJ
Brammer
R
R
Lundstrom
J
J
Meyer
T F
TF
Morse
G
G
Nealy
T
T
Nilsson
D
D
Peterson
E
E
Toppilla
N
N
Warren
R W
RW
Fu
H
H
Bruneau
D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects*