Title: Normative Data for Upper Limb Nerve Conduction Study in North India

Authors: Ovais Karnain Wadoo, Surjit Singh, Mariya Rouf Tramboo, Bimal K Agrawal

 DOI:  https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i6.26

Abstract

Introduction:  Nerve conduction study assesses peripheral motor and sensory functions by recording the evoked response to electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves. Nerve conduction studies have become a simple and reliable test of peripheral nerve function. With adequate standardization, nerve conduction studies not only identify the lesion but also localize the site of maximal involvement of the nerve. It is important to acquire adequate normative data for an electrophysiological laboratory for working reference as variation due to demographic profile, anthropometric data and laboratory conditions are recorded in literature.

Aim and Objective:  To obtain normative electrophysiological data of Nerve Conduction for Median and Ulnar Nerves of Upper Limb in normal healthy adult individuals of North India.

Material and Method: The study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical sciences and Research, Mullana (Ambala). The study comprised of 200 healthy subjects between the age group of 16-55 years consisting of equal number of males and females. The equipment used was Allengers Scorpio EMG EP NCS system provided by Allengers Medical System Limited, Chandigarh. Compound Muscle Action potential (CMAP) and Sensory Nerve Action Potential (SNAP) of Median and Ulnar nerve were recorded using standardized technique.

Result and Conclusion: The normal values of various parameters of Nerve conduction study obtained in our study are: Median motor nerve- Latency 3.12±0.39 ms, Amplitude 13.78±2.45 mv, Velocity 56.79±3.68 m/s; Ulnar motor nerve- Latency 2.59±0.39 ms, Amplitude 10.16±1.76 mv, Velocity 56.92±3.67 m/s; Median sensory nerve- Latency 2.53±0.19 ms, 35.15±7.66 µv, Velocity 55.51±4.12 m/s; Ulnar sensory nerve- Latency 2.44±0.22 ms, Amplitude 31.37±6.72 µv, 56.49±3.86 m/s. The results of the present study were compared with the data which has been published in the literature. we found out some differences which could be attributed to a variety of causes which may include Age of the subjects; number of the subjects examined; the laboratory conditions and the equipment used.

From our study, we concluded that it is necessary that each neurophysiological lab needs to have normative data from its own population to be used as reference values for giving reports on abnormal results.

Keywords: Compound muscle action potential, Sensory nerve action potential, Latency, amplitude, Nerve conduction velocity.

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Corresponding Author

Dr Ovais Karnain Wadoo

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