title: Reliability of the electrical perceptual threshold and Semmes-Weinstein monofilament tests of cutaneous sensibility.
abstract: METHODS
  Prospective experimental.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the reliability and repeatability of the electrical perceptual threshold (EPT) and Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (SWM) tests for cutaneous sensibility. EPT and SWM tests have potential as quantitative and sensitive adjuncts to the American Spinal Injuries Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) assessment of spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  London, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  EPT and SWM tests were carried out on 40 neurologically healthy individuals (20 male). One examiner carried out all the tests. Each individual was examined for EPT and SWM sensitivity at ASIA key points on four dermatomes (C4, T1, T6, L4) on both sides of the body. The tests were repeated after an interval of approximately 1 week. Intra-rater reliability was determined using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). Repeatability was determined using the method of Bland and Altman.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in the mean values of EPT or SWM between assessments for any dermatome. Significant difference in mean values for both EPT and SWM were observed between some dermatomes. ICC ranged from 0.67 to 0.81 for the EPT and from 0.46 to 0.61 for the SWM. Higher ICC for the EPT compared with the SWM was again revealed when male and female subjects were assessed separately. Correlation between EPT and SWM was weak or (largely) absent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EPT has better reliability than SWM in healthy subjects. However, as both tests have the potential to add sensitivity and resolution to the AIS assessment, a further comparison of their repeatability in SCI is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Experimental Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK. p.ellaway@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Ellaway
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Catley
mesh_terms: D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods*; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult