HAND-ARM VIBRATION SYNDROME IN WORKERS EXPOSED TO PROLONGED VIBRATION

Abstract

Industrial vibrations are the cause of hand-arm vibration syndrome, characterized by a polymorphic clinical picture. The aim of the study is to improve the diagnostics, treatment and prevention of hand-arm vibration syndrome in workers. Material and methods: The object of the study are 65 cases of hand-arm vibration syndrome in workers of enterprises in Northern Bulgaria. The persons were hospitalized in the Department of Occupational Diseases, University Hospital - Pleven in the period 2019 - 2023. The group was related with a length of service of more than 5 years. Clinical, laboratory, functional, imaging and statistical methods were applied. Results and discussion: The impairments of the examined persons are expressed in four clinical syndromes: neurological, vascular, bone-joint-muscular and auditory-vestibular. Socially significant diseases were found in 91% of the examined persons. Conclusions: Hand-arm vibration syndrome is a current health problem for workers in various branches of production in Bulgaria. Damage to persons exposed to long-term (more than 5 years) vibration exposure is manifested by a variety of clinical symptoms, summarized in four main syndromes - neurological, vascular, bone-joint-muscular and auditory-vestibular. Individuals in the first to second and second stages of vibration disease predominate among the studied contingent of workers. Prolonged vibration exposure predisposes to socially significant diseases such as diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, arterial hypertension, etc.

Keywords

• occupational diseases
• vibration
• hand-arm vibration syndrome