EDITORIAL COMPETENCY BASED MEDICAL EDUCATION CBME A CHALLENGE IN INDIA

Abstract

Background There are different comparison tests for electrodiagnosis (EDX) of median neuropathy at wrist. When routine tests fail to establish diagnosis especially in mild cases, these tests play crucial role. There are few short segmental and few long segmental median versus ulnar comparison tests.Objectives With current knowledge we aimed to find out whether routine sensory onset latencies difference of median and ulnar nerves can be used as long segmental comparison test for EDX of median neuropathy or not? Effect of gender and body mass index (BMI) on different variables was also assessed.Material and methods Routine median and ulnar sensory nerve conduction study was modified to comparison test by small change in its technique. 50 healthy late teenagers, after careful screening for neurological, musculoskeletal disorders underwent the test.Results Out of 50 participants, 49 actually participants underwent test. Reference values were obtained for modified comparison test. Gender and BMI effect was statistically non significant (p value >0.05) on different test variables. Median Vs Ulnar sensory Onset latency difference was [range: 0-0.6ms, upper limit: 0.3ms, mean (SD): 0.15(0.15)].Conclusion Gender and BMI shows no effect on Routine median Vs Ulnar onset latency comparison test. Reference values are comparable and show no obvious differences with existing comparison tests. Therefore this comparison test may be used for EDX of median neuropathy at wrist in association with other tests.