TY - CHAP
T1 - Nerve conduction studies
T2 - Basic concepts
AU - Tavee, Jinny
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Nerve conduction studies (NCSs) are an essential tool in the evaluation of the peripheral nervous system. The sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) provides information on the sensory nerve axon and its pathway from the distal receptors in the skin to the dorsal root ganglia, while the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) is an assessment of the motor nerve fibers from their origins in the anterior horn cell to their termination along muscle fibers. Various parameters of the SNAP and CMAP waveforms are used to determine the number of functioning nerve fibers and the speed of conduction. Similarly, specific electrodiagnostic patterns involving SNAP and CMAP amplitudes, latencies and other measurements can help discern the underlying nerve pathophysiology as either axon loss or demyelinating in nature. Numerous technical and environmental factors can affect the NCS and should be recognized and corrected if possible. Finally, while basic NCSs are a noninvasive and low-risk procedure, safety issues for patients with implanted electrical devices should be considered.
AB - Nerve conduction studies (NCSs) are an essential tool in the evaluation of the peripheral nervous system. The sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) provides information on the sensory nerve axon and its pathway from the distal receptors in the skin to the dorsal root ganglia, while the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) is an assessment of the motor nerve fibers from their origins in the anterior horn cell to their termination along muscle fibers. Various parameters of the SNAP and CMAP waveforms are used to determine the number of functioning nerve fibers and the speed of conduction. Similarly, specific electrodiagnostic patterns involving SNAP and CMAP amplitudes, latencies and other measurements can help discern the underlying nerve pathophysiology as either axon loss or demyelinating in nature. Numerous technical and environmental factors can affect the NCS and should be recognized and corrected if possible. Finally, while basic NCSs are a noninvasive and low-risk procedure, safety issues for patients with implanted electrical devices should be considered.
KW - Axon loss
KW - Conduction block
KW - Demyelination
KW - Motor nerve action potential
KW - Nerve conduction studies
KW - Sensory nerve action potential
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85068155332&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85068155332&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/B978-0-444-64032-1.00014-X
DO - 10.1016/B978-0-444-64032-1.00014-X
M3 - Chapter
C2 - 31277849
AN - SCOPUS:85068155332
T3 - Handbook of Clinical Neurology
SP - 217
EP - 224
BT - Handbook of Clinical Neurology
PB - Elsevier B.V.
ER -