Measurement of F wave components in a sample of healthy Iraqis: Normative data

Abstract

Background: F-waves are late responses often incorporated during performance of nerve conduction studies and have become an integral part of the electrodiagnostic examination. Objective: To study uncommonly measured F-wave parameters and to establish normative data in our country. Materials and Methods: The study included 126 healthy individuals aged between 18 to 55 years. F-waves minimum, mean and maximum latencies, persistence, F-amplitude, F-conduction velocity, chronodispersion, Tacheodispersion, and F-ratio were studied by surface electrodes from the abductor pollicis brevis, abductor digiti minimi, abductor hallucis, and extensor digitorum brevis by stimulating the median, ulnar, tibial, and common peroneal nerves, respectively. Results: Different F-wave parameters were presented in the manuscript. F-wave latencies were correlated with limb length and height. Conclusion: F-wave latencies correlate better to the limb length than the height. The use of F-wave latencies without such correlation may lead to an erroneous conclusion. F-wave parameters should be performed in routine nerve conduction studies.