Vibration related white finger disease: a case report

Vibration related white finger disease: a case report

Vibration related white finger disease is frequently observed in workers exposed to hand-arm vibration. Themain occupational exposure sources for hand-arm vibration are grinding, road and concrete breaking, using ofgrinding wheel, rotary saw, high pressure water hose, pneumatic hammer, drill, hammer, hand crusher, lawnmower, road roller. A 38-year-old male patient was admitted to our occupational disease clinic with complaintsof pain on both fingertips, swelling on the fingers and occasional whitening of the fingers on both hands. Therewas a story of pneumatic hammer use in a private firm that produced heat resistant plate for 12 years and alsowork story in the same company for 2 years in the grinding department. The case was considered to be a whitefinger disease due to vibration with current findings and work history, and medical treatment for white fingerdisease was regulated. It has been suggested that the patient should do job change, work in a non-coldenvironment, and also avoid work that can cause vibration. This case who exposed hand-arm vibrations showsthe importance of taking a detailed work history while taking an anamnesis. In screening the health effects ofthe hand-arm vibration, the complaints of white finger disease should be carefully questioned and examined.Vibration-related white finger disease, as in other occupational diseases, can be protected by taking effectivemeasures at the workplace.

___

  • [1] Su BA. Ergonomy. Atılım University Publication No: 5, Engineering Faculty Publication No: 2, Ankara, 2001:p.246.
  • [2[ Bilir N. Occupational safety and health profile , Turkey. Ministry of Labour and Social Security Publication Number: 62, Ankara: MoLLS, 2016.
  • [3] Güven, HNR. [Health effects of vibration on hand-arm vibrating devices]. PhD. Thesis, Hacettepe University, 2002. [Article inTurkish]
  • [4] Taylor WA, Wasserman ED. Occupational vibration (Zenz C., Occupational Medicine).3rd Ed., 1994:p.297-303.
  • [5] South T. Managing Noise and Vibration at Work: A Practical Guide to Assessment, Measurement and Control. Elsevier ButterworthHeinemann, UK. 2004.
  • [6] Laws J. The hazards of HAVS. Occup Health Saf 1998;67:45-6.
  • [7] Noel B. Pathophysiology and classification of the vibration white finger. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2000;73:150-5.
  • [8] Nyantumbu B, Barber CM, Ross M, Curran AD, Fishwick D, Dias B, et al. Hand-arm vibration syndrome in South African gold miners. Occup Med (Lond.) 2007;57:25-9.
  • [9] Barregard L, Ehrenstrom L, Marcus K. Hand-arm vibration syndrome in Swedish car mechanics. Occup Environ Med 2003;60:287- 94.