Optimization of diagnostic system of hand diseases in employees working under combined effects of vibration and physical overloads

The results of research carried out by theFederalScientificCenterfor Medical and Preventive Technologies of Public Health Risk Management Technologies for the period 2013–2018 showed that diseases associated with the combined effects of vibration and physical overload, employees of hazardous industries develop with experience of 15 years or more. The risk group is women older than 35 years and men older than 40 years. Pathology at the stage of detailed clinical manifestations is characterized by persistent pain syndrome, and, as a consequence, a decrease in the ability to work of workers.

The aim of the study was to optimize the system of diagnosis of hand diseases in workers of industrial enterprises engaged in labor activities under the combined effects of vibration and physical overload, for the development of primary prevention programs.

The observation group consisted of 32 employees aged 39.3±4.3 years, with an experience of 17.4±4.3 years; the comparison group consisted of 30 employees whose working conditions are not related to the studied factors; the average age was 40.6±3.4 years, experience was 19.1±3.1 years. The examination included analysis of the results of a special assessment of working conditions; assessment of neurological status; functional tests; laboratory studies (assessment of inflammation), hand dynamometry, stimulation electroneuromyography; x-rays of the hands and wrist joints, ultrasound examination of the hands.

More than half of the surveyed persons of the observation group and 3/4 of the workers of the comparison group did not make complaints. Indicators of dynamometry of workers in both groups corresponded to physiological norm (p>0.05). Analysis of the results of dynamometer with data from previous years of PMO showed a decrease in strength of muscles of the hand leading hands on 2je,0–16. 7% and from 83.3% of the employees of the monitoring group and in 44.4% of the comparison group (p<0.05), in 50 % of the cases there was a decrease in the percentage of changes in the hand force variation (HFV) in the observation group, and in 38.9% of the cases the indicators remained unchanged. According to ultrasound of the hands, signs of tendinopathy were established in 85% of the employees of the observation group in the absence of persons with similar changes in the comparison group.

In order to optimize the diagnosis of diseases of the hand in industrial workers who carry out their work under the combined effects of vibration and physical overload, in the case of a decrease in the rate of carpal dynamometry by 5% or more during the year, it is recommended to conduct ultrasound of the tendon-ligamentous apparatus of the hand, which will allow timely identification of early signs of tendinopathy.

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