Reproducibility of sensory nerve conduction studies of the sural nerve using ultrasound‐guided needle positioning

Abstract

In this study we sought to evaluate the reproducibility of sensory nerve conduction studies (NCS) using ultrasound-guided needle positioning (USNP). Orthodromic NCS of the sural nerve using needle electrodes with USNP as well as surface electrodes were conducted twice in 20 healthy volunteers. The mean sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude in the initial examination was 39.5 μV using needle electrodes with USNP, and 12.5 μV using surface electrodes (P < 0.0001). The mean SNAP amplitude in the follow-up examination was 39.2 μV using needle electrodes with USNP, and 12.4 μV using surface electrodes (P < 0.0001). The mean intraindividual change in SNAP amplitude (test-retest) was 21.2% using needle electrodes with USNP, and 24.8% using surface electrodes (P = 0.6). Sensory NCS of the sural nerve using needle electrodes with USNP have reliable test-retest reproducibility and yield greater SNAP amplitudes than sensory NCS using surface electrodes.