J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2007 Dec;31(6):689-693.

The Utility of 6 cm Segmental NCS in Ulnar Neuropathy at the Elbow

• Lim GN
• Park YS
• Woo KB
• Ryu DG
• Kim WJ
• Chung SH
• Lee YT

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To verify the efficacy of 6cm segmental nerve conduction study in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE). METHOD: Ulnar nerve conduction studies were performed unilaterally in twenty five asymptomatic healthy adult volunteers and twenty five symptomatic patients with UNE. Twenty five symptomatic patients with UNE were diagnosed by standard ulnar nerve conduction studies, and needle EMG study. In the same healthy controls and patients groups, 6 cm and 10 cm segmental study were then performed at the elbow. The sensitivity and specificity of 6 cm segmental study were compared with those of 10 cm segmental study in these patients.
RESULTS
The sensitivity and specificity came out to be 76% and 92% for the 6 cm segmental study and, 52% and 96% for the 10 cm segmental study.
CONCLUSION
The sensitivity of 6 cm segmental NCS was much higher compared with 10 cm segmental NCS, whereas the specificity was similar in both tests. For screening of the UNE, 6 cm segmental NCS seems to be a more efficacious test.

Keyword

Electromyography; Ulnar nerve; Ulnar neuropathies

MeSH Terms

Adult
Elbow*
Electromyography
Humans
Mass Screening
Needles
Neural Conduction
Sensitivity and Specificity
Ulnar Nerve
Ulnar Neuropathies*
United Nations
Volunteers