Occupational exposure to hand vibration in northern Ontario gold miners.

Nineteen underground gold mine drillers who operate vibration equipment and a control group of 16 gold mill workers without vibration exposure were evaluated. Assessment included static two-point discrimination, moving two-point discrimination, vibration threshold, and cutaneous pressure threshold. Provocative tests, including Tinel, pressure, and Phalen signs, were performed at the carpal and cubital tunnels. Mean age of the miners was 35 years, and the mean age of the control group was 31 years. The mean time of vibration exposure was 14 years. Numbness, pain, and weakness was reported in 12 miners and 1 control subject. Symptoms of vibration white finger were found in 16 miners and 3 control subjects. The miners had a higher incidence of positive provocative tests at the carpal and cubital tunnels and higher cutaneous pressure thresholds than the control group. Significantly higher vibration thresholds were found in the miners versus the control subjects. A correlation between years of vibration exposure and vibration threshold was found.