Tunnel syndromes of the upper extremities in workers using hand-operated vibrating tools. 1994

T Kákosy
National Institute of Occupational Health, Budapest, Hungary.

Neurological and electrophysiological (EMG, ENG) examinations of the upper extremities were carried out in 167 patients exposed to hand-arm vibrations. All patients had typical symptoms (Raynaud's phenomenon and/or numbness, muscle weakness). The results showed that the circumscribed lesions of the tunnel nerves are far more common (92.8%) than diffuse peripheral neuropathies (22.7%). The most common alteration (71.4% below the border-line values) was the lesion of the brachial plexus in the thoracic outlet. In 16.2% of the patients compression of the subclavian artery was also demonstrated by means of a Doppler flowmeter. Cubital tunnel syndrome was observed in 42.5% of the patients. The results suggest that hand-arm vibration can play a part in the development of the thoracic outlet and cubital tunnel syndromes. On the other hand the thoracic outlet syndrome can contribute to the development of vibration-induced Raynaud's phenomenon.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009784 Occupational Diseases Diseases caused by factors involved in one's employment. Diseases, Occupational,Occupational Illnesses,Disease, Occupational,Illnesse, Occupational,Illnesses, Occupational,Occupational Disease,Occupational Illnesse
D009790 Occupations Crafts, trades, professions, or other means of earning a living. Vocations,Occupation,Vocation
D011928 Raynaud Disease An idiopathic vascular disorder characterized by bilateral Raynaud phenomenon, the abrupt onset of digital paleness or CYANOSIS in response to cold exposure or stress. Cold Fingers, Hereditary,Raynaud Phenomenon,Raynaud's Disease,Raynauds Disease
D004576 Electromyography Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes. Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D013901 Thoracic Outlet Syndrome A neurovascular syndrome associated with compression of the BRACHIAL PLEXUS; SUBCLAVIAN ARTERY; and SUBCLAVIAN VEIN at the superior thoracic outlet. This may result from a variety of anomalies such as a CERVICAL RIB, anomalous fascial bands, and abnormalities of the origin or insertion of the anterior or medial scalene muscles. Clinical features may include pain in the shoulder and neck region which radiates into the arm, PARESIS or PARALYSIS of brachial plexus innervated muscles, PARESTHESIA, loss of sensation, reduction of arterial pulses in the affected extremity, ISCHEMIA, and EDEMA. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp214-5). Costoclavicular Syndrome,Neurovascular Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet,Scalenus Anticus Syndrome,Thoracic Outlet Nerve Compression Syndrome,Aperture Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet,Arterial Thoracic Outlet Syndrome,Nerve Compression Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet,Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome,Neurologic Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet,Superior Thoracic Aperture Syndrome,Thoracic Outlet Neurologic Syndrome,Thoracic Outlet Neurovascular Syndrome,Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Neurogenic,Venous Thoracic Outlet Syndrome,Costoclavicular Syndromes,Outlet Syndrome, Thoracic,Outlet Syndromes, Thoracic,Syndrome, Costoclavicular,Syndrome, Scalenus Anticus,Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet,Syndromes, Costoclavicular,Syndromes, Thoracic Outlet,Thoracic Outlet Syndromes
D014732 Vibration A continuing periodic change in displacement with respect to a fixed reference. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed) Vibrations
D017769 Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes Ulnar neuropathies caused by mechanical compression of the nerve at any location from its origin at the BRACHIAL PLEXUS to its terminations in the hand. Common sites of compression include the retroepicondylar groove, cubital tunnel at the elbow (CUBITAL TUNNEL SYNDROME), and Guyon's canal at the wrist. Clinical features depend on the site of injury, but may include weakness or paralysis of wrist flexion, finger flexion, and ulnar innervated intrinsic hand muscles, and impaired sensation over the ulnar aspect of the hand, fifth finger, and ulnar half of the ring finger. (Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1995, Ch51, p43) Guyon Syndrome,Entrapment Syndrome, Ulnar Nerve,External Compression Syndrome, Ulnar Nerve,Ulnar Nerve Compression,Ulnar Nerve Entrapment,Ulnar Nerve Entrapment Syndrome,Ulnar Nerve Entrapment at the Wrist,Ulnar Nerve External Compression Syndrome,Compression, Ulnar Nerve,Entrapment, Ulnar Nerve,Entrapments, Ulnar Nerve,Guyon Syndromes,Nerve Compression, Ulnar,Nerve Entrapment, Ulnar,Syndrome, Guyon,Syndromes, Guyon,Ulnar Nerve Compressions,Ulnar Nerve Entrapments

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