title: Electrodiagnostic techniques in the evaluation of nerve compressions and injuries in the upper limb.
abstract: Nerve conduction studies and the needle examination of muscles (EMG) are valuable aids in the evaluation of acute and chronic focal neuropathies. A careful clinical examination, however, remains the best way to assess patients with these disorders. In an acute and apparently complete nerve lesion, the main drawbacks of electrophysiologic testing are that a full evaluation cannot usually be done before 10 days after the injury, and the differentiation between axonotmesis and neurotmesis cannot be made.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001132:Arm / Q000294:innervation*; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004576:Electromyography; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D006801:Humans; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009431:Neural Conduction; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology