Medial plantar nerve conduction velocities among patients with vibration syndrome due to rock-drill work.

OBJECTIVE The present study was aimed at clarifying the effect of vibration syndrome (VS) on the peripheral nervous system in the lower extremities of patients with VS due to rock-drill work. METHODS Fifty-three patients with VS due to previous exposure to vibration from rock-drilling work and 55 age-matched controls were examined for sensory nerve conduction velocities in the medial plantar nerve (SCV-P). The patient group was divided into three subgroups, outdoor rock-drill workers with vibration-induced white finger (VWF) (N = 10), tunnel workers with VWF (N = 27) and tunnel workers without VWF (N = 16). RESULTS ANOVA of SCV-P for the four groups showed F = 3.23 (dF = 3, 104, p = 0.0253). A significant difference was found between the controls and outdoor rock-drill workers with VWF group (p = 0.0261) by multiple comparison using Scheffe's method. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that peripheral nervous system function in the lower extremities of patient with VS is affected by cold exposure and circulatory disturbance manifested as VWF.