Medial plantar nerve conduction studies in healthy controls and diabetics.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To collect a reference material of the medial plantar nerve action potential, to test intra/interobserver reliability in healthy controls and to apply the test to a group of patients with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: 98 healthy controls and 50 patients with diabetes mellitus were included. The medial plantar nerve was stimulated orthodromically and recorded with a surface electrode. In the patient group, NCS of motor and sensory nerves and quantitative sensory testing were also performed. RESULTS: Responses of the medial plantar nerve were obtained from all controls except from one aged 72. Amplitude decreased with age (r=-0.68, p<0.0001). Intra/interobserver reliability was acceptable. 52% of the patients had abnormal overall NCS classification. Forty-eight percent had delayed tibial F-response latency. The medial plantar NCS were abnormal in 59% of the cases (47% abnormal NAP amplitude and 39% reduced CV), 59% of those with abnormal NCS had symptoms of sensory polyneuropathy. Only 24% had abnormal sural amplitude. Cold perception threshold was abnormal in more patients (30%) than warmth perception threshold (14%). CONCLUSIONS: Responses were easily obtained in controls under 70 years. In diabetics the amplitudes of the medial plantar nerve were abnormal more often than in the sural nerve. SIGNIFICANCE: The medial plantar nerve response is reliable in patients under 70 years, and intra/interobserver reliability is acceptable.

Author information

Author/s: Løseth, Sissel (S); Nebuchennykh, Maria (M); Stålberg, Erik (E); Mellgren, Svein Ivar (SI);

Affiliation: Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø and University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway. sissel.loseth(-atsign-)unn.no

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology (Clin Neurophysiol), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-May; vol 118 (issue 5) : pp 1155-61

Dates: Created 2007/04/09; Completed 2007/06/11; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 17321794, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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