Establishing high-quality reference values for nerve conduction studies: A report from the normative data task force of the American Association Of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine.

Introduction: There are not uniform standards for nerve conduction testing across the United States. The objective of this study is to present a set of methodologically sound criteria to evaluate the literature for the purpose of identifying high-quality normative nerve conduction studies (NCS) suitable for widespread use.

Methods: The Normative Data Task Force (NDTF) was formed to review published studies on methodological issues related to NCS.

Electrodiagnostic reference values for upper and lower limb nerve conduction studies in adult populations.

Introduction: To address the need for greater standardization within the field of electrodiagnostic medicine, the Normative Data Task Force (NDTF) was formed to identify nerve conduction studies (NCS) in the literature, evaluate them using consensus-based methodological criteria derived by the NDTF, and identify those suitable as a resource for NCS metrics.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted of published peer-reviewed scientific articles for 11 routinely performed sensory and motor NCS from 1990 to 2012.

Results: Over 7,500 articles were found.

Ulnar motor study to first dorsal interosseous: Best reference electrode position and normative data.

Introduction: Reference electrode position affects nerve conduction study results. This study was undertaken to determine the optimal reference electrode position for ulnar motor recording from the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle and to develop normative data.

Methods: Fifty-one subjects were tested using reference electrode positions on the thumb, index, and little fingers.

Prevalence and risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries related to endoscopy.

Background: There are limited data regarding work-related injury among endoscopists.

Objective: To define the prevalence of endoscopy-related musculoskeletal injuries and their impact on clinical practice and to identify physician and practice characteristics associated with their development.

Design: Survey.

Cancer rehabilitation: increasing awareness and removing barriers.

It has been more than 30 years since Lehman et al. published research identifying rehabilitation problems encountered at different cancer sites, the need for rehabilitation services, and gaps in the delivery of rehabilitation care. The lack of identification of patient problems and the lack of appropriate referral by physicians unfamiliar with the concept of rehabilitation were identified as primary barriers to optimal delivery of rehabilitation care.

Normal motor nerve conduction studies using surface electrode recording from the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, deltoid, and biceps.

Objective: Proximal peripheral nerve conduction studies can provide useful information to the clinician. The difficulty of measuring the length of the proximal nerve as well as a frequent inability to stimulate at 2 points along the nerve adds a challenge to the use of electrodiagnosis for this purpose. The purpose of this article is to present normal values for the suprascapular, axillary, and musculocutaneous nerves using surface electrodes while accounting for side-to-side variability.

Median and Ulnar 14-cm Antidromic Sensory Studies to the Third and Fifth Digits-A Comparison of Amplitude.

There are multiple reports of peripheral nerve injury following the implantation or removal of surgical hardware. Electrodiagnostic testing can be useful in assessing the chronicity, severity, and recovery of such a nerve injury. The purpose of this study is to establish a normative data set to allow for comparison of median and ulnar antidromic sensory peak-to-peak amplitude values.

Acceptable differences in sensory and motor latencies between the median and ulnar nerves.

The median and ulnar nerves are often studied during the same electrodiagnostic examination. The sensory and motor latencies of these nerves have been compared to detect a common electrodiagnostic entity: median neuropathy at the wrist. However, this comparison could also be used to diagnose less common ulnar pathology.

Comparison of median and radial sensory studies to the thumb.

There are multiple reports of neurological injury from both the implantation and the removal of devices utilized in orthopedics. Nerve conduction studies can be a valuable tool in evaluating the acuity, severity, and prognosis of these injuries, as well as in tracking their course. This study was undertaken in an effort to create a large normative database for examining median and radial sensory nerve conduction studies to the first digit.

Median and ulnar antidromic sensory studies to the fourth digit.

The literature documents multiple reports of neurological injury resulting from both the implantation and the removal of orthopedic devices. These injuries can be easily and objectively evaluated with nerve conduction studies. This study was undertaken to derive a normative database for median and ulnar sensory conduction studies to the fourth digit.

An antidromic study of the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve, with a comparison of the differences between medial and lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve latencies.

Electrodiagnostic study of the medial antebrachial cutaneous (MAC) and lateral antebrachial cutaneous (LAC) nerves is not routinely undertaken. Pathology of either nerve or of the brachial plexus may occur from a variety of causes. Iatrogenic injury of these nerves has been rarely reported, but potential exists for nerve damage with a number of medical procedures, implants, or surgeries in the flexor forearm.

Establishing normal nerve conduction values- lumbrical and interosseous responses.

Objective: The importance of normative peripheral nerve data is increasing due to the advances in medical implantation, microsurgical suturing, and tubulization repair techniques. Because the median and ulnar nerves are often affected, their normal values must be reliable. The objective of this study was to create a larger database of normative values for the first and second lumbrical responses.

Radial versus dorsal ulnar cutaneous sensory studies.

Peripheral nerves injuries are unfortunately common. Neuropathy may result from trauma, entrapment, metabolic or hereditary disturbances, inflammatory processes, iatrogenic injury from medical implants, and several other causes. We set out to create a large normative database for radial and dorsal ulnar cutaneous (DUC) sensory studies.

Establishing normal values of the proximal median motor nerve-a study of the pronator teres and flexor carpi radialis in healthy volunteers.

The importance of normative peripheral nerve data is increasing due to advances in medical implantation, microsurgical suturing, and tubulization repair techniques. Because the median nerve is often affected, its normal values must be reliable. Although the distal portion of the median nerve has been well studied using electrodiagnostic methods, the proximal forearm segment has not.

Ulnar nerve motor conduction to the first dorsal interosseous muscle.

The ulnar motor study to the abductor digiti minimi (ADM) is commonly performed, but does not test the terminal deep palmar branch of the ulnar nerve. Although damage to the ulnar nerve most often occurs at the elbow, the damage may occur elsewhere along the course of the nerve, including damage to the deep palmar branch. Ulnar conduction studies of the deep branch have been performed with recording from the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle.

Establishing improved normal values for nerve conduction studies.

Nerve conduction studies are commonly performed to diagnose injuries of the peripheral nerves. In the past, normal ranges have been derived on relatively small samples of normal subjects. These ranges were often suboptimal for clinical use.

Sacroiliac joint pain: anatomy, biomechanics, diagnosis, and treatment.

The sacroiliac joint is an underappreciated cause of low back and buttock pain. It is thought to cause at least 15% of low back pain. It is more common in the presence of trauma, pregnancy, or in certain athletes.

Fencing.

Fencing is a sport in which two people attempt to score points by making their weapon (epee, foil, or saber) contact their opponent. The most common types of injury seen in fencing are weapon injuries; strains, sprains, and trauma; and nontraumatic injuries, the pathologic findings of which are discussed in this article.

Revolutionary advances in medical waste management. The Sanitec system.

It is the purpose of this collective review to provide a detailed outline of a revolutionary medical waste disposal system that should be used in all medical centers in the world to prevent pollution of our planet from medical waste. The Sanitec medical waste disposal system consists of the following seven components: (1) an all-weather steel enclosure of the waste management system, allowing it to be used inside or outside of the hospital center; (2) an automatic mechanical lift-and-load system that protects the workers from devastating back injuries; (3) a sophisticated shredding system designed for medical waste; (4) a series of air filters including the High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter; (5) microwave disinfection of the medical waste material; (6) a waste compactor or dumpster; and (7) an onboard microprocessor. It must be emphasized that this waste management system can be used either inside or outside the hospital.

Reference values for median nerve conduction to the pronator quadratus.

Objective: To derive a normative database for nerve conduction values of the median nerve to the pronator quadratus using a large and varied subject population.

Design: Descriptive study.

Setting: Private office or university-based clinic.

Devastating injuries in healthcare workers: description of the crisis and legislative solution to the epidemic of back injury from patient lifting.

The purpose of this report is to describe a crisis in healthcare, disabling back injuries in US healthcare workers. In addition, outlined is the proven solution of safe, mechanized, patient lifting, which has been shown to prevent these injuries. A "Safe Patient Handling--No Manual Lift" policy must be immediately instituted throughout this country.

Childhood obesity: a simple equation with complex variables.

The prevalence of childhood obesity is rising rapidly, as are the associated medical complications, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and coronary heart disease. This has significant medical and socioeconomic implications. The definition of obesity in adults is based on body mass index (BMI), which has been correlated with morbidity and mortality.

The Sit & Stand chair. A revolutionary advance in adaptive seating systems.

A major factor governing independence for the elderly and persons with disabilities is the ability to stand from a chair. Factors such as pain, reduced joint range of motion, stiffness, and muscle weakness frequently limit the ability to stand. Sit-to-stand position is even further reduced in patients whose hands and shoulders are afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis.

Strategies to reduce hyperthermia in ambulatory multiple sclerosis patients.

Approximately 400,000 Americans have multiple sclerosis. Worldwide, multiple sclerosis affects 2.5 million individuals.