[Degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the locomotor system in metallurgists]. / Degenerativno-distroficheskie zabolevaniia oporno-dvigatel'nogo apparata u lits, rabotaiushchikh na metallurgicheskom kombinate.

AIM: To evaluate prevalence of osteoarthrosis (OA) in metallurgists in conditions of high tension of the locomotor system and exposure to industrial pollutants depending on the age, sex and duration of service. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Epidemiological survey covered 713 workers (284 females and 429 males) of the Orsko-Khalilovsky Metallurgical Company. OA detection was made basing on screening questionnaire N 1, record N 2 and OA diagnostic criteria designed and tested in the RAMS Rheumatism Institute. RESULTS: Prevalence of OA among workers of the metallurgic company reached 71.6%. 83.5 and 63.8% females and males had degenerative changes in the joints and spine, respectively. This rate got higher with age and duration of service. Combination of OA with osteochondrosis (OC) was registered in 61.7%, isolated OC and OA--in 25.0 and 13.3%, respectively. OC developed most frequently in the lumbar, cervical-lumbar, cervical-thoracic spine while OA was found in the knee, shoulder and hand joints. CONCLUSION: Workers engaged in metallurgic industry work in conditions of high static-dynamic tension of the osteomuscular system and exposure to industrial chemical and physical hazards. The above risk factors contribute to high OA incidence. With age and longer exposure, both men and women fall ill with OA more frequently and have combined lesions of the spine and peripheral joints: 64.5 and 59.1% for women and men, respectively.

[Feature of osteoarthrosis among steel plant workers under various working conditions]. / Osobennosti osteoartroza u rabotaiushchikh na metallurgicheskom proizvodstve s razlichnymi usloviiami truda.

Clinical manifestations of osteoarthrosis were studied with reference to gender of the workers engaged at metallurgic plant and their working conditions. The examinees were divided into three groups: workers doing hard mechanical labor and exposed to chemical and physical factors (group 1); workers doing the above labor and exposed to physical factors only (group 2); intellectuals (group 3). In group 1 women, nodular polyosteoarthrosis (x-ray stage II) was encountered significantly more frequently than in men of this group and males and females from groups 2 and 3. Oligoarthrosis without nodules (x-ray stage I) occurred more frequently in men. In group 2 nodular polyosteoarthrosis occurred more frequently in women. Oligoarthrosis without nodules stage I both in males and females was more frequent than in group 1. Polyosteoarthrosis in females and oligoarthrosis in males was more incident in group 2 than in group 3. In group 3 males and females diagnosis of monoarthrosis without nodules (x-ray stage I) was made significantly more frequently than in groups 1 and 2.

[Temporary loss of work capacity in connection with rheumatic diseases in workers of the agricultural-industrial complex]. / Vremennaia netrudosposobnost' v sviazi s revmaticheskimi zabolevaniiami u rabotnikov agropromyshlennogo kompleksa.

The authors studied the morbidity rate accompanied by temporary incapacity for work in workers of the agricultural and industrial complex suffering from diseases of the joints. It has been established that rheumatic diseases take the first place as to their duration (number of days) and the second place at to their incidence (number of cases) per 100 workers. An annual rise in rheumatic disease prevalence, especially of a degenerative dystrophic nature was noted. Of importance are the age of patients service record in agriculture, intensity of load, nature of work, season. Machine operators were most liable to the mentioned disease.