title: Ultrasonographic reference values for peripheral nerves and nerve roots in the normal population of children and adolescents: study protocol for an observational-prospective trial.
abstract: High-resolution ultrasonography is a new and promising technique to evaluate peripheral and spinal nerves. Its validity as a diagnostic tool in neurological diseases has been demonstrated in adults. Up to now no reference values have been published in children and adolescents although this technique would be ideal in this population as it is fast and non-invasive.
  
  
  
  Our aim is to generate ultrasonographic reference values for several peripheral nerves (median, ulnar, radial, tibial, sural, peroneal and tibial nerve) as well as for the spinal nerves C5 and C6 and the vagus nerve in children and adolescents. In an observational prospective study, we will recruit 205 children and adolescents aged between ≥2 and ≤18 years without neuromuscular symptoms/signs and without a history of neuromuscular disease. After the collection of demographic and anthropometric data (height, weight, body mass index, age, gender and handedness) and a neurologic examination, a high-resolution ultrasonography of peripheral and spinal nerves at several anatomic landmarks will be performed. These data will be used to estimate age-dependent percentile curves and to evaluate inter-rater, intrarater and interequipment reliability of the measurements.
  
  
  
  This study was approved by the local ethics committee (EKNZ 2015-210). The findings from this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
  
  
  
  NCT02570802, pre-results publication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0936-0777
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rasenack
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Bernhard F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Décard
authors.affiliation: Clinical Trial Unit, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schädelin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grimm
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuropaediatrics, University of Basel Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.|Division of Neurology, Medical University Clinic, Kantonsspital Baselland, Bruderholz, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuropaediatrics, University of Basel Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.|Division of Neurology, Medical University Clinic, Kantonsspital Baselland, Bruderholz, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hafner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic
keywords: High resolution nerve ultrasound; normal values; peripheral nerve system