Factors influencing aversion to specific electrodiagnostic studies

Brain and Behavior

Nivedita U. Jerath²  Scott B. Strader²  Chandan G. Reddy¹  Andrea Swenson²  Jun Kimura² 

[1] Department of Neurosurgery, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA;Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA

关键词: Aversion;    electrodiagnostic studies;    electromyography;    muscle;    nerve;    nerve conduction studies;    pain;   

DOI  :  10.1002/brb3.240

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Abstract

Objective

To compare the degree of discomfort caused by nerve conduction studies (NCS) versus needle electromyography (EMG), and to determine what factors predict aversion to one test or the other.

Methods

Two hundred patients underwent both EMG and NCS, and were asked to indicate which test was more uncomfortable. Responses were then correlated with demographic information, testing characteristics, and medical histories to identify any notable associations.

Results

Of the 200 patients, 58.5% (117) of the patients found the NCS more uncomfortable than EMG. Sixty-one percent (11/18) of the younger patients (18–29 years old) found EMG more uncomfortable (P = 0.08), whereas 68% (40/59) of the older patients (age greater than 60 years old) found NCS more uncomfortable (P = 0.05). Sixty-seven percent (14/21) of the patients whose BMI was less than 22 kg/m² rated EMG as more uncomfortable (P = 0.01). Sixty-nine percent (27/39) of the patients whose BMI was greater than or equal to 38 found the NCS more uncomfortable (P = 0.02). A positive correlation existed between NCS discomfort and number of nerves tested. 67% (35/52) of the patients with polyneuropathy found NCS more uncomfortable.

Conclusion

Nerve conduction studies are more uncomfortable than needle EMG in the majority of patients, and predictions regarding which test will be more uncomfortable for a given patient are possible.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 The Authors. Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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