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[Somatosensory evoked potentials in severely handicapped patients]
1Department of Pediatrics, Kibougaoka Rehabilitation Center for Handicapped Children, Gifu.
No to Hattatsu = Brain and Development
|May 1, 1995
Summary
Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) reveal central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction in handicapped patients. Abnormal P13-N20 latencies correlate with etiology and brain damage, offering diagnostic insights.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Neurophysiology
Background:
- Severely handicapped patients often exhibit central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction.
- Assessing CNS function is crucial for understanding neurological impairments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) in severely handicapped patients.
- To correlate SSEP abnormalities with etiological factors and brain imaging findings.
Main Methods:
- Recorded SSEPs in 53 severely handicapped patients and compared with normal controls.
- Analyzed P9-P13 and P13-N20 interpeak latencies.
- Correlated findings with patient etiology and CT scan results.
Main Results:
- P9-P13 interpeak latencies were generally normal.
- P13-N20 interpeak latencies showed significant abnormalities (prolongation or absence).
- Prenatal onset cases (migration disorders) had prolonged P13-N20; postnatal onset cases often showed absent N20.
Conclusions:
- SSEP abnormalities, particularly in P13-N20, are indicative of CNS dysfunction in handicapped individuals.
- Specific SSEP patterns correlate with the onset and cause of neurological impairment.
- Absent N20 is associated with diffuse brain destruction.