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Vibration from a riveting hammer causes severe nerve damage in the rat tail model
Author(s) -
Raju Sandya Govinda,
Rogness Olaf,
Persson Magnus,
Bain James,
Riley Danny
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.22206
Subject(s) - rivet , hammer , vibration , medicine , anatomy , structural engineering , physics , engineering , acoustics
Hand–arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is an occupational neurodegenerative and vasospastic disorder in workers who use powered hand tools. Frequency weighting (ISO 5349) predicts little risk of injury for frequencies >500 H Z . Potentially damaging high frequencies abound in impact tool–generated shock waves. Methods: A rat tail impact vibration model was developed to deliver shock‐wave vibration from a riveting hammer to simulate bucking bar exposure. Rat tails were vibrated continuously for 12 min. Tail flick withdrawal times were determined for noxious heat. Nerve trunks and skin were processed for light and electron microscopy. Results: Immediately after vibration, the tails were hyperalgesic and had disrupted myelinated axons, fragmented nerve endings, and mast‐cell degranulation. By 4 days, the tails were hypoalgesic; nerve endings were lost in the skin. Conclusions: Shock‐wave vibration causes severe nerve damage. Frequency weighting seriously underestimates the risk of nerve injury with impact tools. Muscle Nerve, 2011