Publication: Nerve Conduction study in healthy individuals a preliminary age based study
Date
2010
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Nerve conduction study assesses peripheral nerve functions and has clinical implication.
Objectives
To study the effect of age on nerve conduction study variables in healthy adults.
Methods
Cross sectional study was done from Jan 2006 to Dec 2006 in department of Physiology,
BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. The study was done in 34
(younger, n= 18, 17 to 29 years; older, n= 16, 30 to 57 years) consenting healthy
adults of either sex. The compound muscle action potential and sensory nerve action
potential were recorded using standard technique. Due to the non-normal distribution
of data, the effect of age on nerve conduction study variables was analyzed using Mann
Whitney U test.
Results
Younger vs. older individuals: older had lower Compound Muscle action potential
amplitude (mV) in all motor nerves except radial and left ulnar nerves. Compound Muscle
action potential duration (ms) was shorter in older (p<0.05) in ulnar, tibial, right median
and left common peroneal motor nerves than the younger: right median (6.92±1.3 vs.
8.5±1.88), right ulnar (7.09±1.54vs. 8.2±1.31), left ulnar (10.56±1.44 vs. 12.06±1.5),
right tibial (6.28±0.81vs. 7.28±1.12), and left tibial (9.58±1.52vs.10.78±1.71). Sensory
nerve actional potential amplitude (μV) was smaller in older as compared to younger:
right median (19.01±7.83 vs. 26.97±10.63), right ulnar (10.9±3.44 vs.16.09±5.85) and
right radial (14.31±4.34 vs.19.72±6.47). SNAP duration (ms) was longer in older: right
ulnar (1.34±0.17 vs.1.26± 0.18), left ulnar (1.46±0.14 vs. 1.29±0.26), and left median
(1.11± 0.14 vs. 1± 0.14).
Conclusions
Age has definite effects on amplitude and duration of motor and sensory nerves.
Different nerves have different timing of aging. Without adjustment for age, the
sensitivity and specificity of nerve conduction study will decrease whenusing the same
reference data in patients with different age.
Key Words
age, compound muscle action potential, nerve conduction study, sensory nerve action
potential
Description
1-2 Department of Physiology, 3 Department of Anatomy BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal