title: Interrater reliability of electrodiagnosis in neonatal brachial plexopathy.
abstract: We investigated interrater reliability of overall assessment of nerve root lesions by electrodiagnostic testing (EDX) in neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP).
  
  
  
  Two blinded, board-certified reviewers retrospectively reviewed de-identified EDX data from 37 infants with NBPP for 2005-2012. Only nerve conduction and electromyography needle data were included. The examiners independently assigned 1 of 4 nerve root lesion categories: (1) pre-ganglionic lesion (avulsion), (2) post-ganglionic lesion (rupture), (3) normal, or (4) "unable to determine." Simple percentage agreement, the Cohen kappa statistic representing interrater reliability for each nerve root (C5-T1), and overall kappa between examiners were evaluated.
  
  
  
  Interrater reliabilities were substantial to almost perfect for each nerve root except C5. Considering all nerve roots, overall interrater reliability was substantial (kappa = 0.62); simple percentage agreement was 75% (138/185).
  
  
  
  Interrater reliability of nerve root assessment by EDX for infants with NBPP was high for C6-T1 root levels, but less reliable for C5 because of technical factors. Muscle Nerve 55: 69-73, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan, 325 East Eisenhower, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Catherine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Spires
authors.affiliation: Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: Spencer M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Kate Wan-Chu
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan, 325 East Eisenhower, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108, USA.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Lynda J-S
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: EMG; brachial plexopathy; electrodiagnosis; electromyography; infants; interrater reliability; neonates; nerve conduction; pediatrics