title: Oxyneurography: a new technique for the measurement of nerve oxygenation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive technique used to measure tissue oxygenation. In this study we describe oxyneurography (ONG), a novel application of the NIRS technique in non-invasive surface measurement of oxygenation in ulnar nerve.
  
  
  METHODS
  NIRS sensors were applied directly over the ulnar epicondylar groove to measure the ulnar nerve ONG index, a ratio of oxygenated over total hemoglobin content. Ulnar motor conduction studies were obtained in all subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ONG index and ulnar motor conduction had a positive linear association. Ulnar motor conduction could be linearly predicted by the ONG index. The ONG index showed a sensitivity of 1.0 and a specificity of 0.852 for the presence of an ulnar neuropathy symptom. During limb ischemia, the ONG index gradually decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oxyneurography can lead to the early detection of a compromise in a nerve's oxygenation status leading to neuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 65 Arlington Road, Woburn, Massachusetts 01801, USA. joe.jabre@tufts.edu
authors.forename: Joe F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Jabre
authors.forename: Giovanna M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Squintani
authors.forename: Kenneth K H
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Chui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019069:Cell Respiration / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D007511:Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D009211:Myoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D012372:ROC Curve; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; D020424:Ulnar Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D009211:Myoglobin; D010100:Oxygen