Nerve conduction velocity in median nerve of healthy adult population in Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh with respect to age, gender, and height along with the relation amongst them

Abstract

Background: Nerve conduction velocities (NCV) represent the most accurate methods to study the peripheral nerves owing to their ability in diagnosing nerve-related conditions. It helps to distinguish between a true nerve disorder and conditions where muscles are affected due to a nerve injury. However, there are considerable differences in reference values for NCV in different nerves with respect to region, gender, population, and various anthropological data such as age, height, body mass index, and temperature. They have to be kept in mind while doing nerve conduction studies as these anthropological factors vary according to the different geographical areas. Aim and Objectives: The aim of this study is to establish the electrophysiological data NCV for the right median nerve in normal healthy adults in Malwa region of Indore, district of Madhya Pradesh, and to study the effect of age, gender, and height on it along with relation among them. Materials and Methods: A total 118 healthy participants (38 females and 80 males) between the ages of 20 and 60 years, with no neurological problem were investigated at Index Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India. All tests were performed on JAVA record management system Aleron-201 series. Statistical analysis was done using statistical package for social sciences 10.0 version. Results: The mean of NCV initially increases between the ages of 20-30 years and 31-40 years, followed by a decrease in the mean NCV of elbow–wrist segment significantly decreases while mean of age and NCV for males is more than that of females and height increases with advancing age. It was found that NCV was inversely related to an increase in height of the participants the mean NCV of Group 1 > Group 2, Group 3, Group 4 with P < 0.05 which is highly significant. Conclusion: The normal conduction parameter of commonly tested peripheral nerves can be used in the investigation of peripheral nerve injury and for evaluating the peripheral nerve disorder. Age, gender, and height have a definitive effect on NCV. Hence, it could also be utilized for comparative studies and for diagnostic conclusion.