Diagnostic value of finger thermometry in assessment of hand-arm vibration syndrome.

Finger thermometry and cold provocation test were performed in 90 chain saw workers and 58 healthy controls. The workers were grouped according to the Taylor-Pelmear scale of hand-arm vibration syndrome into subgroups 0, 1, 2, 3. The recovery rate reflected passive vasodilative ability. According to the results of the study, the test could differentiate the subjects with clinically manifest vibration-induced white fingers (stages 1, 2 and 3) from the controls. The discriminating threshold of recovery rate with regard to Raynaud's phenomenon was 90%. With that diagnostic limit the above method was sensitive and specific enough to verify vibration-induced vasospastic disorders and therefore could be recommended for their surveillance.