The level of the radial motor nerve injury can be determined in clinical diagnosis by the nerve conduction study as well as the neurological examination of the upper extremity.
The commonly used method of the radial nerve conduction study is the one that records from the extensor indicis proprius muscle among many other muscle groups, by inserting the needle electrode. However, the disadvantages of this method are,
firstly,
the uncertainty of the needle position because of the muscle's deep location, secondly, possible artifacts because of the inevitable needle movement, and lastly, the severe pain for the patient. For such reasons, the authors aimed in this study
to
adopt
the surface electrode clinically and have compared the data of the radial motor nerve conduction study in the surface electrode from the needle electrode group. The data were collected from 30 normal adults.
No significant difference was found in the distal latency and conduction velocity for the two groups(p>0.05). The amplitude, however, was found to be significantly smaller(p<0.05) when using the surface electrode than the needle electrode
although
the
value was greater than 5 mV and acceptable for the nerve conduction study(p>0.05).
Farthermore, there was no significant difference between the right and left sides. When the radial nerve is suspected to be injured or entrapped, nerve conduction study using surface electrode can be a useful method as it is more convenient for
the
examiner and comfortable for the patient.
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