A follow-up study of 164 patients with vibration disease after their discharge from the hospital was performed to clarify the points in occupational rehabilitation. The subjects were 164 male patients who had used chain saws in the national forestry and hospitalized for 3 months or more. Questionnaires containing subjective symptoms, treatments in clinic, conditions of work, daily habits (smoking, drinking, exercise and skin rubbing with dry towel) prophylaxis were mailed to all the subjects, and all of them returned to us. The subjects were divided into two groups : A group included 73 cases with less than 3 months of hospitalization, and B group had 91 cases with 3 months and more of hospitalization. The period from the discharge to the time of filling questionnaires was 2 to 21 months.
Of seventeen items of subjective symptoms, the rates of pain of shoulders, headache, disturbance of sound sleep and tinnitus in B group were significantly higher than those in A group. The complaints due to the primary lesions of the joints and the muscles were higher than the others.
All the subjects had resumed their work on 29.5th day on an average after their discharge. Treatments as outpatients consisted of administration of drugs, physical therapy with cervical traction, hot pack on shoulders or arms, paraffine bath, etc.
Physical conditions in all the patients were indicated by three grades from self-evaluation with “good, ” “fair” and “poor.” The evaluation of “fair” and “poor” showed more than 80 per cent. It would show that the neurotic aspect of the patient with vibration disease is more prevalent in the present survey in the comparison with the data of our clinical experiences and our another survey.
In conclusion, as problems in the occupational rehabilitation there are two points : how to manage orthopedic complaints, and education of the patient concerning the disease.