Accuracy of diagnoses delivered by an automated hand-held nerve conduction device in comparison to standard electrophysiological testing in patients with unilateral leg symptoms
✍ Scribed by Kevin Schmidt; Nataly Montes Chinea; Eric J. Sorenson; Jeffrey A. Strommen; Andrea J. Boon
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2010
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 84 KB
- Volume
- 43
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0148-639X
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Abstract
Introduction: Automated hand‐held nerve conduction study (NCS) devices are being marketed for use in the diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathy (LSR). In this study we compared the specificity and sensitivity of a hand‐held NCS device for the detection of LSR with standard electrodiagnostic study (EDX). Methods: Fifty patients referred to a tertiary referral electromyography (EMG) laboratory for testing of predominantly unilateral leg symptoms (weakness, sensory complaints, and/or pain) were included in the investigation. Twenty‐five normal “control” subjects were later recruited to calculate the specificity of the automated protocol. All patients underwent standard EDX and automated testing. Results: Raw NCS data were comparable for both techniques; however, computer‐generated interpretations delivered by the automated device showed high sensitivity with low specificity (i.e., many false positives) in both symptomatic patients and normal controls. Conclusions: The automated device accurately recorded raw data, but the interpretations provided were overly sensitive and lacked the specificity necessary for a screening or diagnostic examination. Muscle Nerve, 2011