European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

NERVE CONDUCTION STUDIES IN UPPER LIMB OF HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS: EFFECT OF ANTHROPOMETRIC VARIABLES

Gupta S.*, Khadka R., Thakur D. and Subedi P.

ABSTRACT

Background: Nerve conduction study (NCS) is routinely used for evaluation of neuromuscular function. It assesses neuromuscular impairment. Several studies had shown a significant effect of anthropometric variables on nerve conduction variables. Thus, we would like to study the nerve conduction parameters of upper limbs and also, to study the effect of anthropometric variables on it. Objectives: To study the nerve conduction parameters of upper limbs in healthy subjects and to study the effect of anthropometric variables on it. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on thirty healthy subjects both male and female of age 20 -35 years selected from BPKIHS by a convenient sampling method. Anthropometric variables such as age, height, weight, BMI were recorded. In all subjects NCS were performed in median and ulnar nerve using Nihon Kohden machine. Results: Mean age, height, weight and BMI of subjects were 29.27± 6.21 years, 1.59± 0.07 m, 60.10± 10.73 kg, 23.85±4.63 kg/m2 respectively. Among sensory parameters of NCS; height showed significant positive correlation with onset latencies of bilateral median nerve (rt; r=.425, p=0.019; lt; r= .369, p=0.045) and significant negative correlation with SNAP amplitude of bilateral median nerve (rt; r=-.398, p=0.029; lt; r=-.511, p=0.004). Similarly, among motor parameters; height showed significant positive correlation with onset latencies, and significant negative correlation with nerve conduction velocity of bilateral median and ulnar nerve. CMAP amplitude of bilateral median nerve showed significant positive correlation with height. F wave latencies of bilateral median and ulnar nerve also showed significant positive correlation with height. Conclusion: In our study among anthropometric variables, mostly height showed significant correlation with NCS parameters of upper limb in both sensory and motor parameters of median and ulnar nerve. We should consider height as strong variable while making diagnostic conclusion in NCS lab.

Keywords: Nerve conduction studies in upper limb of healthy individuals: effect of anthropometric variables.