Are nerve conduction studies altered in functional neurological disorders?

Functional neurological disorders represent conditions without a readily identifiable origin or laboratory-supported diagnostic. We report a case of functional neurological disorder, presenting with muscle weakness with alterations in F-waves on the affected side.

A retrospective case review of a patient seen in clinic. Electrophysiological evaluation included nerve conduction studies, including recording of F-waves in lower limbs, and needle EMG. A patchy sensory loss and unilateral muscle weakness of the left lower limb persisted nine days after a 40-year-old female patient developed bilateral lower limb weakness following a laparoscopic surgery. MRI was negative for radicular compression, myelopathy, or lumbosacral plexopathy. F-waves of the peroneal and tibial nerves on the left were absent or of reduced persistence and amplitude compared to the asymptomatic right side.

The observation of unilateral alterations of F-wave parameters could be interpreted as an asymmetrical decrease of alpha motor neuron excitability on L4 - S2 segments. In the absence of peripheral nervous system dysfunction or a structural lesion, the results here suggest a central control dysfunction or point to a more complex peripheral role. Further research is necessary to determine the frequency of these findings in a larger group of patients while incorporating other late responses, such as H (Hoffman) reflex, and measures of cortical excitability.