VPT‐60: A novel approach to monitoring peripheral nerve sensitivity

Abstract

Peripheral nerve sensitivity (PNS) can be used as an indicator of nerve loss or damage known as peripheral neuropathy. Because peripheral neuropathy can result in morbidity and mortality, accurate monitoring of PNS is imperative.A review of the literature has shown that variables such as age, sex, compression force and temperature can effect PNS. Neither of the two clinical reference standards [Semmes‐Weinstein Monofilaments (SWM) or Bio‐Thesiometer (BT)] take these variables into account in determining PNS.We developed a novel instrument, VPT‐60, that measures PNS, temperature and compression force of a digit. It can vary the frequency of vibration and the rate of amplitude change among other variables.The correlation of these variables with PNS was analyzed in 41 subjects that exhibited a wide range of characteristics. We found a statistically significant correlation coefficient between VPT‐60 PNS and age [0.52 (p=0.001)]; sex [0.33 (p=0.03)]; finger weight [−0.045 (p=0.005)]; and finger temperature [0.34 (p=0.03)]. While the VPT‐60 had a significant correlation with both the SWM (0.75) and the BT (0.86), the BT correlation with SWM was only 0.51. At 60 Hz vibration, the VPT‐60 had a higher correlation with SWM than did the BT at 120 Hz.In this study, the VPT‐60 appeared to provide a better approach to determining peripheral nerve sensitivity and the factors that effect it than the SWM or BT.