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An Electrophysiological Method for Examining Lumbosacral Root Compression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 November 2018

Andrew Eisen ,
Donald Schomer  and
Calvin Melmed
Andrew Eisen*
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology and Neuro-surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Donald Schomer
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology and Neuro-surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Calvin Melmed
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology and Neuro-surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
*
Montreal Neurological Hospital, 3801 University St., Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2B4, Canada
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Summary

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The propagation velocities and conduction times of nerve impulses responsible for muscle F-waves were measured in the proximal segments of 60 normal posterior tibial nerves and of 41 normal peroneal nerves. The results were compared with those of 25 patients having confirmed lumbosacral root compression due to disc degeneration. Using the peroneal nerve, 65 per cent of patients had a prolonged proximal conduction time; a similar abnormality was found in 56 per cent of patients when the posterior tibial nerve was studied. The yield of positive results rose to 85 per cent and 76 per cent respectively when the M- and F-latencies in given individuals were compared. It was also shown that in normal subjects the F-response has a longer latency, and slower conduction velocity than the H-reflex when both are obtained using the same stimulating and recording sites, in patients in whom the ankle jerks and H-reflexes are absent, the F-waves may still be recorded, indicating that the latter are mediated through motor fibers

Résumé

Résumé

Le temps et la vélocité de conduction proximate F ont été mesurés dans les nerfs tibiaux postérieurs normaux (60 cas) et péronéens normaux (41 cas). Ces résultats furent comparés ¿ ceux obtenus chez 25 patients montrant de façon certaine une compression des racines lombo-sacrées due à une dégénérescence discale. 65 pour cent des patients montraient un temps de conduction proximal allongé lorsque l’on faisait la mesure dans le nerf péronné; ce chiffre était de 56% lorsque le nerf tibial postérieur était utilisé. Ces résultats positifs atteignent 85% et 76% respectivement lorsque, chez un individu donné, les latences M et F étaient comparées. Nous avons aussi montré que chez les sujets normaux la réponse F a une latence plus longue, et une vélocité de conduction plus faible, que le réflexe H lorsque les deux sont mesurés au même site et avec les mêmes points de stimulation et d’enregistrement. Chez les patients sans réflexes achiléens ni réflexe H, il est encore possible d’enregistrer l’onde F, indiquant donc que celle-ci est transportée par les fibres motrices.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , May 1977 , pp. 117 - 123
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1977

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