Vibration
White Finger
What
is Vibration White Finger?
Vibration White Finger is a condition in which the blood supply is
interrupted, the result of a constriction of the blood vessels in the
hand, leading to the symptoms in the fingers and thumb described below.
In the late 1990s many thousands of miners and gas workers received
compensation from British Coal and British Gas for injuries sustained
using pneumatic drills and hammers.
The
Symptoms
With Vibration White Finger, the fingers become white and blue or
simply white, as the blood vessels in the hand constrict, until
circulation ceases. The hands become clumsy in cold weather. Vibration
White Finger is usually painful and may be accompanied by a tingling
feeling or may eventually result in loss of sensation. There are many
other possible causes of these symptoms, which come under the phenomena
Raynaud’s Disease.
The Causes
The use of vibrating tools dates from the nineteenth century. Reports
of associated symptoms first appeared in the early 1990s and the
condition is a recognised industrial injury (A11) for a range of
occupations using hand-held percussive or vibrating tools. Cold working
conditions seem to increase the risk of damage.
The Doctor’s Examination
In the UK, GPs receive little training in the diagnosis and treatment
of musculoskeletal disorders. Ideally your doctor will refer you to a
specialist who has taken an interest in RSItype conditions, usually a
rheumatologist or neurologist. In order to establish the diagnosis
there has to be a history of exposure to vibration with the exclusion
of other possible causes.
Treatment
Vibration White Finger, as distinct from other forms of Raynaud’s
Disease, is progressive and irreversible. It is essential to avoid
further exposure to work involving repetitive movements of the fingers
or holding vibrating machinery. Warmth may reduce the symptoms.
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