title: Guidelines for the intramuscular positioning of EMG electrodes in the semispinalis capitis and cervicis muscles.
abstract: The objective of the study was to establish guidelines for the application of fine-wire or needle electrodes in the semispinalis cervicis and semispinalis capitis muscles. First of all, measured data for the puncture angle and puncture depth of each muscle were determined in CT scans. Using a regression approach, a model relation of these data with the neck circumference was established. This made it possible to accurately determine the puncture angle and puncture depth on the basis of the known neck circumference. In a further step, the neck muscles of seven human cadavers were punctured with wires in order to check the workability of these guidelines. At the same time, the wires' positions in relation to important structures (nerves, vessels) were studied. Both muscles can be punctured with a high degree of reliability. However, when puncturing the semispinalis cervicis muscle, one has to pass through a layer that contains vessels, nevertheless the risk of injury is regarded as very small. The technique enables intramuscular EMG measurements of the two muscles in manifold clinical problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumasurgery, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Ulm, Steinhövelstrasse 9, 89075 Ulm, Germany. mfkramer@gmx.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Högel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eisele
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kinzl
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hartwig
mesh_terms: D004566:Electrodes; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D011677:Punctures / Q000592:standards