Percutaneous recordings from peripheral nerves (preliminary communication).
The recently developed technique provides a precise assessment of neutral activity via intrafascicular axonal recordings from human peripheral nerves. With this technique it is possible to record from cutaneous afferent fibers. Receptive fields belonging to cutaneous afferents are readily perceived by patients due to orthodromic conduction of activity induced by mechanical activation of appropriate fibers. Temporal synchrony between peripherally applied stimuli and the proximally placed recording electrode assure continuity of the nerve. By sampling axonal activity from cutaneous fasciles at regular intervals following trauma of undefined etiology, a definite appraisal can be made concerning the integrity of a nerve and, hence, the need for surgical intervention. This is a preliminary report of the first such applications of this technique.
D000328:Adult; D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology*; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009431:Neural Conduction; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation*