Normal motor nerve conduction studies using surface electrode recording from the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, deltoid, and biceps.
OBJECTIVE
Proximal peripheral nerve conduction studies can provide useful information to the clinician. The difficulty of measuring the length of the proximal nerve as well as a frequent inability to stimulate at 2 points along the nerve adds a challenge to the use of electrodiagnosis for this purpose. The purpose of this article is to present normal values for the suprascapular, axillary, and musculocutaneous nerves using surface electrodes while accounting for side-to-side variability.


METHODS
Prospective, observational study.


METHODS
Patients were evaluated in outpatient, private practices affiliated with tertiary care systems in the United States and Malaysia.


METHODS
One hundred volunteers were recruited and completed bilateral testing. Exclusion criteria included age younger than 18 years; previous shoulder surgery/atrophy; symptoms of numbness, tingling, or abnormal sensations in the upper extremity; peripheral neuropathy; or presence of a cardiac pacemaker.


METHODS
Nerve conduction studies to bilateral supraspinatus, infraspinatus, deltoid, and biceps brachii muscles were performed with documented technique. Distal latency, amplitude, and area were recorded. Side-to-side comparisons were made. A mixed linear model was fit to the independent variables of gender, race, body mass index, height, and age with each recorded value.


METHODS
Distal latency, amplitude, area, and side-to-side variability of nerve conduction studies of the suprascapular, axillary, and musculocutaneous nerves with correlation to significant independent variables.


RESULTS
Data are presented showing normal distal latency, amplitude, and area values subcategorized by clinically significant variables, as well as acceptable side-to-side variability. Increased height correlated with increased distal latency in all the nerves tested. Amplitudes were larger in the infraspinatus recordings from women, while the amplitudes from the biceps and deltoid were greater in men. A larger body mass index was associated with a smaller amplitude in the deltoid in men. No correlations were seen with age or race.


CONCLUSIONS
Normative values for distal latency, amplitude, duration, and area were developed for proximal nerve conductions to the axillary, musculocutaneous, and suprascapular nerves. Simple surface electrode placement allows for easy reproduction of the authors' techniques. This is a useful standard to facilitate evaluation of these proximal peripheral nerves.
Buschbacher
Ralph Michael
RM
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Weir
Susan Karolyi
SK
Bentley
John Greg
JG
Cottrell
Erika
E
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001827:Body Height; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011930:Reaction Time; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000294:innervation*; D055815:Young Adult