F38. Nerve conduction study of the three supraclavicular nerve branches

Abstract

We describe a new nerve conduction study technique with reference values for the three branches of the supraclavicular nerve (SCN) in young healthy subjects and application of it in two patients. The recording electrode was placed at the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, 6–7 cm from the sternoclavicular joint. SCN branches were stimulated just below the clavicle, 2.5 cm, 7 cm and 10.5 cm lateral to the sternoclavicular joint. Twenty healthy volunteers (ten men and ten women), 19–38 years, mean 25.9 years (SD 6.3) and two case reports with SCN lesions. The mean conduction velocities of the SCN branches were 70–78 m/s (SD 8–10 m/s), and amplitudes 3–4 μV (0.9–2.0 μV). There were no differences between the sides or genders. NCS of the three SCN branches was feasible in all subjects, providing reference values of this new technique. The method was useful in verifying SCN lesions in two patients.