Sensory Nerve Conduction Study of the Medial Superior Cluneal Nerve

J Korean Assoc EMG Electrodiagn Med 2001;3(2):79-83.
Published online May 10, 2001.

Abstract

Objectives : To determine the reference value of conduction of medial superior cluneal sensory nerve, which is the lateral cutaneous branches of the dorsal rami of L1 and L2 nerve roots. Methods : The subjects were eleven healthy adults (9 men and 2 women), ranging from 17 to 61 years old. The orthodromic sensory nerve conduction study reference values were determined by using a near nerve recording technique at the tender point over the iliac crest. The surface electrode was used for stimulation at the distal area of dermatome where the sensory nerve action potentials were obtained. Results : Twenty reproducible sensory nerve action potentials were evoked. The mean distal peak latency was 2.02±0.24 msec, the mean conduction velocity was 45.53±6.95 m/sec and the mean SNAP amplitude was 4.07±2.67 μV. The distance between midline of spine and recording electrode (D1), the distance between posterior superior iliac spine and recording electrode (D2), the distance between recording electrode and stimulation electrode (D3), and the angle between the horizontal line and the line that connects the electrodes are 7.33±0.32 cm, 5.33±0.81 cm, 8.84±1.17 cm, 43.65±8.29° respectively. Conclusion : This study demonstrates the reliable electrodiagnostic technique that may be useful in the evaluation of patients with unilateral low back pain and buttock pain without referral due to medial superior cluneal nerve entrapment at iliac crest.

Key Words: Sensory nerve conduction study, Superior cluneal nerve, Entrapment neuropathy