Reliability of sensory threshold measurement using a digital vibrogram.
Loss of vibratory sensation has been suggested as an early symptom in the diagnosis of compression neuropathies. The use of a digital vibrogram has recently been examined as a means of evaluating vibratory sensation thresholds over a range of frequencies from 8 to 500 Hz. Although this instrument does yield useful clinical information, little is known about the test-retest reliabilities of the thresholds obtained. To learn more about this, we assessed a total of 76 hands--32 normal and 44 with suspected carpal tunnel syndrome. The average sensory thresholds for onset and cessation of vibratory sensation were obtained. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were computed, and demonstrated improvement if an initial practice trial was administered. Our findings suggest that the vibrogram can be a reliable, clinical assessment when an initial practice trial is included as part of the standard administration.
Grunert
B K
BK
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.
Wertsch
J J
JJ
Matloub
H S
HS
McCallum-Burke
S
S
D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D014732:Vibration