Durability of monopolar Teflon-coated electromyographic needles

The results of a two-year study on durability and cause of failure of electromyographic monopolar electrodes are reported. The electrodes were obtained from the regular stock of three different manufacturing sources. Durability is defined on the basis of the number of patients that could be examined before failure. The range was 3 to 110 with the averages 19.7, 33.8, and 62.5 for the three different manufacturers. Common causes of electrode failure included: Teflon retraction, 40.6%; tip dullness or burrs, 34.8%; structural failure of wire or pin, 13.1%; electrical artifacts, 9.7%; and bending of needle shank, 5.7%. Variations in manufactures' tip contour and bevel correlated with tip durability.