Cadaver evaluation of EMG needle insertion techniques used to target muscles of the thorax.
METHODS
Measure the accuracy of needle insertion in thoracic muscles of human cadavers.


OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the effectiveness of known EMG techniques for sampling thoracic innervated muscles.


BACKGROUND
The evaluation of thoracic radiculopathies requires accurate electrodiagnostic techniques for evaluating the thoracic myotomes.


METHODS
An American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine certified physician placed needles into pertinent muscles of the thorax and an anatomist serving as a blinded dissector recorded the path and accuracy of needle.


RESULTS
Needle examination of thoracic muscles was as accurate as limb needle examination. No notable risks are noted in multifidus sampling. However, in the cadaver, some risks were noted in association with placements in the intercostal muscles. The target muscle was reliably sampled, but the rib or vertebral level was difficult to landmark in the cadaver.


CONCLUSIONS
Needle examination of the thoracic multifidus and intercostals is reliable, although further confirmation is needed to accurately verify the appropriate vertebral or rib level being sampled.
Chiodo
Anthony
A
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA. tchiodo@umich.edu
Goodmurphy
Craig
C
Haig
Andrew
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted / Q000592:standards*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007366:Intercostal Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D009339:Needles; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013909:Thorax / Q000502:physiology*