Search for other papers by Richard T. Katz in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
Hand arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) has been defined as a constellation of vascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal signs and symptoms in workers who use hand-held vibrating tools (eg, drills, grinders, saws, or jackhammers); pathological features affect primarily vascular, neurological, and muscle tissues. Researchers have hypothesized changes in central nervous system processing, but no significant somatotopic cortical changes have been found using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Differential diagnosis of HAVS includes a variety of anatomical, circulatory, and vasospastic disorders and was standardized in the Stockholm Workshop classification scale (1987). Available laboratory tests generally are incapable of grading the severity of individual cases, and no protocol reliably distinguishes between psychogenic and organic abnormalities. Some proposed tests are impractical, and multimodality testing is confounded by statistical fallacies. Vascular tests, including the cold provocation tests, correlate poorly with disease staging according to the Stockholm Scale, and plethysmography before and after cold provocation, were found to be unsatisfactory. Job tasks that involve vibrating machines are associated with musculoskeletal symptoms but sorting out the roles and latency periods of vibration, repetitive movements, grip and push factors, and worker postures is imprecise. The AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, does not provide directions about rating impairment associated with HAVS, but evaluators can use Chapter 16 The Upper Extremities, basing the rating on motion, neurological, and/or vascular deficits.
-
1.
Bovenzi M, Giannini F, Rossi S. Vibration induced multifocal neuropathy in forestry workers: electrophysiological findings in relation to vibration exposure and finger circulation. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 73:519–527, 2000.
-
2.
Bovenzi M. Exposure response relationship in the hand arm vibration syndrome. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 71:509–519, 1998.
-
3.
Bovenzi M. Health effects of mechanical vibration. G Ital Med Lav Ergon 27:58–64, 2005.
-
4.
Brammer A, Taylor W. Sensorineural stages of hand-arm vibration syndrome. Scand J Work Environ Health 13:279–283, 1987.
-
5.
Brammer J, Taylor W. Vibration Effects on the Hand and Arm in Industry. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1983.
-
6.
Burke FD, Lawson IJ, McGeoch KL et al. Carpal tunnel syndrome in association with hand arm vibration syndrome: review of claimants seeking compensation in the Mining Industry. J Hand Surg 30B:199–203, 2005.
-
7.
Chong PST, Cros DP. Technology literature review: quantitative sensory testing. Muscle Nerve 29:734–747, 2004.
-
8.
Coughlin PA, Bonser R, Turon EPL et al. Comparison between two methods of aesthesiometric assessment in patient with hand-arm vibration syndrome. Occup Med 51:272–277, 2001.
-
9.
Coughlin PA, Chetter IC, Kent PJ et al. Analysis of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of cold provocation thermography in the objective diagnosis of the hand-arm vibration syndrome. Occup Med 51:75–80, 2001.
-
10.
Daud R, Maeda S, Kameel NN et al. Pilot study of reference vibrotactile perception thresholds on the fingertip obtained with Malaysian healthy people using ISO 13091-1 equipment. Ind Health 42:189–195, 2004.
-
11.
Dong RG, Rakheja S, Schopper AE et al. Hand transmitted vibration and biodynamic response of the human hand arm: critical review. Crit Rev BIomed Eng 29:393–439, 2001.
-
12.
Elms J, Poole K, Mason H. Screening questionnaire for HAVS? Occup Med 55:139–141, 2005.
-
13.
Friden J. Vibration damage to the hand: clinical presentation, prognosis and length and severity of vibration required. J Hand Surg 26B:471–474, 2001.
-
14.
Gemne G, Lundstrom R. Evaluation of the white finger risk prediction model in ISO 5349 suggests need for prospective studies. Cent Eur J Public Health 4:137–139, 1996.
-
15.
Gemne G, Pyykko I, Taylor W et al. Stockholm Workshop scale for the classification of cold-induced Raynaud's phenomenon in the hand-arm vibration syndrome. Scand J Work Environ Health 13:275–278, 1987.
-
16.
Gemne G. Diagnostics of hand-arm system disorders in workers who use vibrating tools. Occup Environ Med 54:90–95, 1997.
-
17.
Giannini F, Rossi S, Passero S et al. Multifocal neural conduction impairment in forestry workers exposed and not exposed to v ibration. Clin Neurophysiol 110:1276–1283, 1999.
-
18.
Griffin MJ, Bovenzi M. Diagnosis of disorders caused by hand-transmitted vibration: Southampton Workshop 2000.
-
19.
Hagberg M. Clinical assessment of musculoskeletal disorders in workers exposed to hand-arm vibration. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 75:97–105, 2002.
-
20.
Harada N, Iwamoto M, Laskar MS et al. Effects of room temperature, seasonal condition and food intake on finger skin temperature during cold exposure test for diagnosing hand arm vibration syndrome. Ind Health 36:166–170, 1998.
-
21.
Harada N. Cold-stress tests involving finger skin temperature measurement for evaluation of vascular disorders in hand arm vibration syndrome. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 75:14–19, 2002.
-
22.
Harazin B, Harazin-Lechowska A, Kalamarz J et al. Measurements of vibrotactile perception thresholds at the fingertips in Poland. Ind Health 43:535–541, 2005.
-
23.
Ishitake T, Kihara T, Matoba T. Application of Stockholm criteria to patients with hand-arm vibration syndrome in a follow-up study. Cent Eur J Public Health 3:S31–S33, 1995.
-
24.
Kakosy T, Gloviczki Z, Balla L. Tunnel syndromes of the upper extremities in paients suffering from vibration damage. Orv Hetil 126:2765–2769, 1985.
-
25.
Kakosy T, Nemeth L, Hazay B et al. Hand arm vibration syndrome in caisson miners. Orv Hetil 138:1743–1746, 1997.
-
26.
Kakosy T, Nemeth L, Kiss G et al. Hand arm vibration syndrome in foundry workers. Orv Hetil 144:219–2135, 2003.
-
27.
Kakosy T. Tunnel syndromes of the upper extremities in workers using hand operated vibrating tools. Med Lav 85:474–480, 1994.
-
28.
Kihlberg S, Hagberg M. Hand arm symptoms related to impact and nonimpact hand-held power tools. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 69:282–288, 1997.
-
29.
Koskimies K, Farkkila M, Pyykko I et al. Carpal tunnel syndrome in vibration disease. Brit J Ind Med 47:411–416, 1990.
-
30.
Krajnak K, Dong RG, Fllavahan S et al. Acute vibration selectively increases alpha 2C adrenergic smooth muscle constriction and alters thermosensitivity of cutaneous arteries. J Appl Physiol (Epub ahead of print.)
-
31.
Kurozawa Y, Nasu Y, Hosoda T et al. Long-term follow-up study on patients with vibration induced white finger. J Occup Environ Med 44:1203–1206, 2002.
-
32.
Kurozawa Y, Nasu Y. Current perception thresholds in vibration induced neuropathy. Arch Environ Health 56:254–256, 2001.
-
33.
Lawson IJ, McGeoch KL. Medical assessment process for a large volume of medicolegal compensation claims for hand arm vibration syndrome. Occupational Medicine 53:302–308, 2003.
-
34.
Lawson IJ, Nevell DA. Review of objective tests for the hand arm vibration syndrome. Occupational Medicine 47:15–20, 1997.
-
35.
Lindsell CJ, Griffin MJ. Normative data for vascular and neurological tests of the hand arm vibration syndrome. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 75:43–54, 2002.
-
36.
Lisse JR. Raynaud Phenomenon. http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic1993.htm, 2005.
-
37.
Lundborg G, Rosen B, Knutsson L et al. Hand arm vibration syndrome: is there a central nervous component? An fMRI study. J Hand Surg 27B:514–519, 2002.
-
38.
Lundstrom R. Neurological diagnosis: aspects of quantitative sensory testing methodology in relation to hand arm vibration syndrome. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 75:68–77, 2002.
-
39.
Mason HJ, Poole K, Saxton J. Critique of a UK standardized test of finger rewarming after cold provocation in the diagnosis and staging of hand-arm vibration syndrome. Occupational Medicine 53:325–330, 2003.
-
40.
Matoba T, Ishitake T, Kihara T. New criterion proposed for the diagnosis of hand arm vibration syndrome. Cent Eur J Public Health 3:S37–S39, 1995.
-
41.
McGeoch KL, Lawson IJ, Burke F et al. Use of sensorineural tests in a large volume of medicolegal compensation claims for HAVS. Occup Med 54:528–534, 2004.
-
42.
Necking LE, Dahlin LB, Friden J et al. Vibration induced muscle injury: an experimental model and preliminary findings. J Hand Surg 17:B:270–274, 1992.
-
43.
Necking LE, Friden J, Lundborg G. Reduced muscle strength in abduction of the index finger: an important clinical sign in hand arm vibration syndrome. Scand J Palst Recontru Surg Hand Surg 37:365–70, 2003.
-
44.
Necking LE, Lundborg G, Friden J. Hand muscle weakness in long-term vibration exposure. J Hand Surg 27B:520–525, 2002.
-
45.
Necking LE, Lundborg G, Lundstrom R et al. Hand muscle pathology after long-term vibration exposure. J Hand Surg 29B:431–437, 2004.
-
46.
Necking LE, Lundstrom R, Dahlin LB et al. Tissue displacement is a causative factor in vibration-induced muscle injury. J Hand Surg 21B:753–757, 1996.
-
47.
Necking LE, Lundstrom R, Lundborg G et al. Skeletal muscle changes after short term vibration. Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg 30:99–103, 1996a.
-
48.
Nillson T. The hand arm vibration syndrome: a prevention challenge or a price to pay (editorial). Occupational Medicine 53:299–301, 2003.
-
49.
Nilsson T. Neurological diagnosis: aspects of bedside and electrodiagnostic examinations in relation to hand arm vibration syndrome. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 75:55–67, 2002.
-
50.
Noel B. Pathophysiology and classification of the vibration white finger. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 73:150–155, 2000.
-
51.
Palmer KT, Coggon DN. Deficiencies of the Stockholm vascular grading scale for hand-arm vibration. Scand J Work Environ Health 23:435–439, 1997.
-
52.
Pelmear PL, Taylor W. Carpal tunnel syndrome and hand arm vibration syndrome: diagnostic enigman. Arch Neurol 51:416–420, 1994.
-
53.
Pelmear PL. The clinical assessment of hand arm vibration syndrome. Occupational Medicine 53:337–341, 2003.
-
54.
Piligian G, Herbert R, Hearns M et al. Evaluation and management of chronic work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the distal upper extremity. Am J Ind Med 37:75–93, 2000.
-
55.
Poole K, Elms J, Mason HJ. Diagnostic value of finger systolic blood pressure and cold-provocation testing for the vascular component of hand arm vibration syndrome in health surveillance. Occup Med 54:520–527, 2004.
-
56.
Sakakibara H, Maeda S, Yonekawa Y. Thermotactile threshold testing for the evaluation of sensory nerve function in vibration-exposed patients and workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 75:90–96, 2002.
-
57.
Stoyneva Z, Lyapina M, Tzvetkov D et al. Current pathopysiological views on vibration-induced Raynaud's phenomenon. Cardiovasc Res 57:615–624, 2003.
-
58.
Suizu K, Harada N. Effects of waterproof covering on hand immersion tests using water at 10 degrees C, 12 degrees C and 15 degrees C for diagnosis of hand-arm vibration syndrome. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 78:311–318, 2005.
-
59.
Suizu K, Inoue M, Fujimura T et al. Influence of waterproof covering on finger skin temperature and hand pain during immersion test for diagnosing hand arm vibration syndrome. Ind Health 42:79–82, 2004.
-
60.
Takahashi S, Iwamoto M, Yoshimura M et al. Factors influencing autonomic nervous function during cold water immersion test in patients with hand arm vibration syndrome. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 76:249–252, 2003.
-
61.
Todaro A, Tomasini M, Di Carlo D et al. Neuropathies caused by vibrating instruments: clinicodiagnostic study of a group of symptomatic subjects. Med Lav 91:217–225, 2000.
-
62.
Toibana N, Sakakibara H, Hirata M et al. Thermal perception threshold testing for the evaluation of small sensory nerve fiber injury in patients with hand arm vibration syndrome. Ind Health 38:366–371, 2000.
-
63.
Weir E, Lander L. Hand-arm vibration syndrome. Canadian Medical Association Journal 172:1001–1002, 2005.
-
64.
Wieslander G, Norback D, Gothe CJ et al. Carpal tunnel syndrome and exposure to vibration, repetitive wrist movements, and heavy manual work: case-referent study. Brit J Ind Med 46:43–47, 1989.
-
65.
Yan JG, Matloub HS, Sanger JR et al. Vibration induced disruption of retrograde axoplasmic transport in peripheral nerve. Muscle Nerve 32:521–526, 2005.
-
66.
Zamyslowska-Szmytke E. Efficacy of vibration, electric current and thermal perception tests in diagnosis of hand-arm vibration syndrome. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 11:247–254, 1998.
