SENSORY NERVE CONDUCTION VELOCITIES IN PATIENTS WITH VARIOUS NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS
Median and posterior tibial nerve sensory conduction velocities (SCVs) were measured orthodromically through surface electrodes. In 21 normal controls, the median nerve SCV from wrist to elbow was 67.7 m/sec (±1SD 4.7) and from finger to wrist was 45.4 m/sec (±1SD 5.6), and the posterior tibial nerve SCV from ankle to knee was 55.7 m/sec (±1SD 6.3) and from toe to ankle was 40.2 m/sec (±1SD 4.5). In patients with various neurological disorders, the median nevre SCVs were recorded in 70 cases and posterior tibial nerve SCVs in 42 cases. SCVs were markedly reduced or not recorded in cases with severe neuropathies. In the neuropathies with relatively milder clinical symptoms, some cases revealed abnormally reduced SCVs and others SCVs of within normal limit. The similar discordances between clinical manifestations and SCVs were found in a case of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and in some cases with uremia or pernicious anemia. The results suggested there was a discrepancy between clinical manifestations and SCVs in milder neuropathies. To evaluate SCVs, several factors, viz., states of patients, clinical findings, and nature of disorders must be considered.
