Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
Objective: To study sensitivity and specificity of above-elbow motor latency recorded at abductor digiti minimi (ADM) and first dorsal interosseous (FDI) in screening for ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE). Design: Retrospective review of electrophysiologic data. Setting: Electromyography laboratory of a university hospital. Participants: Subjects having undergone ulnar motor conduction studies that included above-elbow motor latency simultaneously recorded at the ADM and FDI. Our “true-positive” group consisted of 74 subjects with the diagnosis of UNE. Our “true-negative” group consisted of 42 subjects with the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and without clinical UNE. Diagnoses were based on clinical presentation and electrodiagnostic data. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Ulnar motor latency data were reviewed. Distribution curves constructed of above-elbow ulnar motor latency (AE-UML) recorded at the ADM and FDI. Receiver operator characteristic curves constructed to graphically represent the relationship between sensitivity and specificity as a function of the cutoff value for normal latency. Results: The mean AE-UML for the UNE group was 11.0ms at the ADM, 11.6ms at the FDI, and 11.3ms at the average of the ADM and FDI (COMB-ADM+FDI). The mean AE-UML for the CTS group was 8.6ms at the ADM, 9.2ms at the FDI, and 8.9ms at the COMB-ADM+FDI. The AE-UML cutoff to give 95% sensitivity was 7.9ms at the ADM, 8.4ms at the FDI, and 8.3ms at the COMB-ADM+FDI. The specificities were 24% at the ADM, 26% at the FDI, and 29% at the COMB-ADM+FDI. Conclusions: The AE-UML can be used as a highly sensitive screen in the electrodiagnostic evaluation of patients with possible UNE; however, its low specificity means that many of the patients undergoing full ulnar nerve testing will have normal studies. Recordings at the ADM and the FDI, as well as their average, resulted in similar specificities.
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
