Vibration related white finger disease: a case report

Abstract

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.