Utility of nerve conduction studies for diagnosis of injury to the medial branch of the superficial radial nerve

• Main Authors: Tomoya Kon, Chieko Suzuki, Ryotaro Hotta, Yukihisa Funamizu, Rie Haga, Tatsuya Ueno, Haruo Nishijima, Akira Arai, Jinichi Nunomura, Hitoshi Nukada, Masahiko Tomiyama, Masayuki Baba
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2017-09-01
• Series: eNeurologicalSci
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240565021730031X

Introduction: The clinical utility of nerve conduction study (NCS) for the distal medial branch of the superficial radial nerve (SRN) has not yet been clarified. Therefore, we investigated the clinical utility of NCS in patients with suspected SRN injury and compared the results with those in healthy control subjects. Methods: Bilateral NCS of the medial branch of the SRN was performed in two patients with suspected injury of the medial branch of the SRN, and in 20 healthy control subjects. A surface recording electrode was placed at the medial side of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb. The SRN was then stimulated at a location 12cm proximal from the recording electrode. Results: The mean sensory nerve action potential in the two patients was significantly lower than that of the controls (6.75±0.92 vs. 23.8±8.2μV, P<0.05). The side-to-side differences in sensory nerve action potential in the two patients were significantly higher than in the controls (55±7.1 vs. 11±7.8%, P<0.05). Conclusions: NCS may be useful for diagnosing injury of the medial branch of the SRN. Keywords: Electrophysiological examination, Medial branch, Nerve conduction study, Neuropathy, Sensory nerve, Superficial radial nerve