Normative data of upper limb motor nerve conduction in Northern Kerala population and effect of height on motor nerve conduction velocity

Abstract

Background: Nerve conduction study is a part of electrodiagnostic procedures, which is helpful in diagnosis and prognosis of diseases and in finding out the extent and distribution of peripheral nerve injury. The values of nerve conduction studies may vary between different populations owing to ethnic and environmental factors. So, each electrophysiology laboratory need to establish a normative data for its population. Nerve conduction velocity may be affected by many factors such as temperature, height, age, and gender. Aims and Objective: To establish normative data for upper limb motor nerve conduction in northern Kerala population and to find out the effect of height on motor nerve conduction velocity. Materials and Methods: Motor conduction studies were conducted prospectively in 250 carefully screened subjects of age group 15–50 years. The study group included equal proportion of male and female subjects. Motor amplitude, distal latency, and motor conduction velocity of median and ulnar nerves were performed. All statistical analyses were done with SPSS software, version 16. Result: Motor conduction velocities of all tested nerves in both genders were found to be negatively correlated with height. The correlations obtained were statistically significant. Conclusion: Normative data for upper limb motor conduction was derived in northern Kerala population. Motor nerve conduction velocities of median and ulnar nerves showed a negative correlation with height.