Since its first description over eight decades ago, the hand arm vibration syndrome — vibration white finger as it was previously known — has become one of the most common prescribed diseases in the industrialized world. This article is intended to provide a broad review of existing evidence and knowledge regarding a disease which, for medicolegal reasons, demands attention from all medical personnel. Detailed discussion is presented regarding: the multifactorial aetiology of the syndrome; suggestions for clinical assessment, laboratory investigations and classification of disease severity: and strategies for the prevention and treatment of the syndrome.
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