Reliability of the nerve conduction monitor in repeated measures of median and ulnar nerve latencies

Conference · Fri May 06 04:00:00 EDT 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1177/154193129403801594· OSTI ID:151251

Washington, I A ^[1]

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1. Grambling State Univ., LA (United States)

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), one of the most rapidly growing work-related injuries, cost American businesses up to $10 billion dollars in medical costs each year (1992). Because conservative therapy can be implemented and CTS is more reversible in it early stages, early detection will not only save industry unnecessary health care costs, but also prevent employees from experiencing debilitating pain and unnecessary surgery. In response to the growing number of cases of CTS, many companies have introduced screening tools to detect early stages of carpal tunnel syndrome. Neurotron Medical (New Jersey) has designed a portable nerve conduction monitor (Nervepace S-200) which measures motor and sensory nerve latencies. The slowing of these latencies is one diagnostic indicator of carpal tunnel syndrome. In this study, we determined the reliability of the Nervepace Monitor in measure ulnar and median nerve latencies during repeated testing. The testing was performed on 28 normal subjects between the ages of 20 and 35 who had no prior symptoms of CTS. They were tested at the same time each day for three consecutive days. Nerve latencies between different ethnic groups and genders were compared. Results show that there was no significant daily variation of the median motor and lunar sensory latencies or the median sensory latencies. No significant differences of latencies was observed among ethnic groups; however, a significant difference of latencies between male and female subjects was observed (p<0.05).

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 151251
• Report Number(s): UCRL-ID--114972-2; CONF-9405328--Absts.; ON: DE95014118
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
ARMS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING
MONITORS
NERVES
RELIABILITY
TESTING
WORKING CONDITIONS