Work Related Conditions
Vibration White Finger
What is Vibration White Finger (Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome or HAVS)?
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, ( Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome or HAVS), 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 RSI-type 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.
