title: Neurophysiological examination of dorsal sural nerve.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nerve conduction study of the dorsal sural nerve (DSN) has been reported to be a sensitive method for early detection of peripheral neuropathies. However, normal reference values are scarce and vary greatly among the different studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive neurophysiological study, including nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) recording, was performed in 294 healthy subjects (21-86 years) with no evidence of neuropathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amplitude of the DSN SNAP ranged from 2.50 to 15.90 μV, and NCV ranged from 28.9 to 52.8 m/s. A significant age-related decrease in DSN SNAP amplitude and NCV was observed. The mean ratio of sural NCV to DSN NCV was 1.33 ± 0.19, and the mean ratio of sural nerve SNAP amplitude to DSN SNAP amplitude was 3.17 ± 1.33.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These normative data of the DSN might be used as reference values for the study of this very distal peripheral nerve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, S. Gerardo Hospital, v. Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy. barbarafrigeni@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frigeni
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cacciavillani
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ermani
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Briani
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrarese
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cavaletti
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011930:Reaction Time; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult