Arterial Stenosis Stemming from Vibration-Altered Wall Shear Stress: A Way to Prevent Vibration-Induced Vascular Risk?

Abstract

Vibration dose assessed by current standards is likely to be poorly suited to protecting workers against vibration white finger (VWF). Therefore, we intended for a two-step approach to better tackle vibration-induced pathophysiological vascular issues. In the first stage, a log2 linear regression law between the amplitude of vibration acceleration and the wall shear stress (WSS) drop was established. Then, in a second stage, we set up a mechanobiological model for computing the arterial stenosis stemming from the WSS decrease and encountered in patients suffering from VWF. Our findings highlighted a stenosis of about 30% when exposed for 10 years to a 40 m·s−2 amplitude vibration for 4 h a day.

Keywords

• vibration white finger
• wall shear stress
• ultrasound
• hyperplasia
• arterial stenosis