Whole plantar nerve conduction study with disposable strip electrodes

Area of Science:

• Neurophysiology
• Clinical Electrophysiology
• Nerve Conduction Studies

Background:

• Evaluating whole plantar nerve conduction is crucial for diagnosing neuropathies.
• Traditional methods may have limitations in amplitude and ease of use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a new method for whole plantar nerve conduction assessment.
• To compare the efficacy of disposable strip electrodes (DSEs) against established techniques.

Main Methods:

• Simultaneous stimulation of medial and lateral plantar nerves using DSEs placed on the sole.
• Recording of whole plantar compound nerve action potentials (CNAPs) at the ankle.
• Comparison with medial plantar nerve conduction studies using an established method.

Main Results:

• Whole plantar CNAPs were successfully recorded bilaterally in 32 healthy volunteers.
• The novel DSE method produced a mean CNAP amplitude 58.2% higher than the Saeed method (26.9 μV vs. 17.0 μV; P < 0.0001).
• Mean baseline to peak amplitude was 26.9 ± 11.8 μV, with a mean maximum conduction velocity of 65.8 ± 8.3 m/s.

Conclusions:

• The DSE method facilitates easier acquisition of whole plantar CNAPs.
• The significantly higher mean amplitude suggests improved sensitivity and utility, particularly for the elderly population.
• This technique offers a promising advancement in clinical neurophysiological assessment.