Sensory nerve conduction velocities of median, ulnar and radial nerves in patients with vibration syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to clarify the range of involvement for hand-arm vibration syndrome (VS) in the median, ulnar and radial nerves of the hand.


METHODS
Sensory nerve conduction velocities (SCVs) for 3 nerves in the hands and arms were examined for 34 patients with VS and 23 age-matched controls. Neuropathy types were classified by possible carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), Guyon's syndrome and digital neuropathy in three nerves.


RESULTS
SCV in the median nerve (middle finger, wrist-elbow) and ulnar nerve (little finger, wrist-elbow), and amplitudes of the median nerve (wrist-proximal and distal parts of the middle finger), ulnar nerve (wrist-proximal and distal parts of the little finger; forearm-proximal part of the little finger; upper arm-proximal part of the little finger) and radial nerve (dorsal side of the hand-thumb) were significantly reduced in VS patients compared with controls. According to subject classifications based on the results of SCV and amplitude of nerve action potential, 52.9% of VS patients displayed multi-focal neuropathy including digital neuropathy, possible CTS and/or Guyon's syndrome.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that VS affects all three nerves in the hand. According to classification results, the main disorders of peripheral nerves comprise digital neuropathy.
Hirata
Mamoru
M
Japan National Institute of Industrial Health and Safety, Nagao 6-21-1, Tama-ku, 214-8585 Kawasaki, Japan. hirata@h.jniosh.go.jp
Sakakibara
Hisataka
H
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D053421:Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011826:Radial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology