Application of VEEG+SEMG in diagnosing different motor seizure types

Abstract

To explore the value of video-electroencephalography plus surface electromyography (VEEG+SEMG) in providing theoretic rationales for clinical diagnosis of different motor seizure types and differentiating the application value of paroxysmal diseases. A total of 116 suspected and repetitive motion epileptics underwent VEEG+SEMG from 2009 to 2012. According to their clinical features, different muscles were selected to record electromyography (EMG) under different activations and stimulations (bodily movement and posture activation, touching, sound stimulus, tapping tendons and arms straight test, etc) and monitor their seizure states. Among 68 patients, 567 attacks were recorded, including 443 epileptic seizures in 41 patients (229 epileptic mycological seizures in 22 patients, 95 tonic seizures in 8, 118 epileptic spasms in 10 and 1 atonic seizure in 1). The average durations of different epileptic motor seizures were (0.16 ± 0.04), (2.9 ± 2.4), (1.4 ± 0.8) and 2 s respectively. Their features of ictal EEG and SEMG varied.Non-epileptic seizures were recorded, including 43 non-epileptic myoclonus (NEMS) in 2 patients 81 PKD in 25. The primary differential diagnoses of epileptic motor seizures were NEMS and paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD). VEEG+SEMG is a reliable tool for diagnosing different types of epileptic seizures and differentiating among paroxysmal diseases.