| Nerve length measurement method in a radial motor nerve conduction study |
| Jae-Gyum Kim1, Yoohwan Kim1, Hung Youl Seok1, and Byung-Jo Kim1,2 |
1Department of Neurology, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
2Brain Convergence Research Center, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea |
| Corresponding Author:
Byung-Jo Kim ,Tel: +82-2-920-6619, Fax: +82-2-925-2472, Email: nukbj@korea.ac.kr |
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Received August 11, 2016 Revised: November 16, 2016 Accepted November 21, 2016 |
| Copyright © 2017 The Korean Society of Clinical Neurophysiology |
| This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is properly cited. |
| ABSTRACT |
Background: Previous studies of radial nerve conduction study (NCS) did not present how to measure the length of the radial nerve across the elbow, and did not even mention how to manage the spiral course of the nerve. This study aimed to applicate the most reliable method to measure the length of the radial nerve during NCS.
Methods: Three points (A, B, and C) were determined along the relatively straight course of the radial nerve. The distance was measured using three different methods: L1) straight distance corresponding to the A-C distance, L2) sum of the distances corresponding to the A-B-C distance, L3) based on the L2, but the elbow is flexed at a 45° angle. We compared the three methods of distance measurement and the calculated nerve conduction velocities (V1, V2, and V3) in normal healthy subjects.
Results: 19 normal participants were enrolled. The mean value for method L1, L2 and L3 were 22.5 ± 1.8 cm, 24.0 ± 2.1 cm, and 23.2 ± 2.1 cm (p < 0.001). Calculated conduction velocities using those distance measurement methods as follows (p < 0.001): V1 (60.9 ± 2.7 m/s), V2 (64.6 ± 3.3 m/s), and V3 (63.4 ± 3.9 m/s). V2 was significantly greater than V1 and V3 (p < 0.001, p = 0.010, respectively).
Conclusions: The distance measurement using a stopover point near the lateral epicondyle between two stimulus points in position of a fully extended elbow with forearm pronation is the most appropriate posture for radial motor NCS. |
| Key words:
Radial nerve; Nerve conduction study; Length measurement; Conduction velocity |
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