Is screening nerve conduction studies necessary for patients with subacute stroke?

J Korean Assoc EMG Electrodiagn Med 2005;7(2):100-108.
Published online May 10, 2005.

Abstract

Objectives: The aims of this study was to reestablish the nature of the involvement of the peripheral nervous system and to investigate usefulness of screening nerve conduction studies (NCS) in patients with hemiplegia after stroke for finding peripheral neuropathy. Methods: Forty five hemiplegic patients and 45 age/sex-matched normal controls underwent NCS. The motor conduction velocities, compound muscle action potential (CMAP) latencies and amplitudes, as well as F-wave latencies were evaluated in median, peroneal and tibial nerves. The latency of sensory nerve action potentials in median nerve was obtained. Ring finger study was also performed to screen carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Results: CMAP amplitudes in the affected side were lower than those in the unaffected side, and more prolonged latencies of distal CMAP and lower conduction velocities were noted in the affected side than those in normal controls. CTS was diagnosed in 14 out of 45 patients(31%) and diabetic polyneuropathy in 9.8%, peroneal neuropathy in 4.9%, respectively. Conclusions: In patients with hemiplegia, disuse atrophy in hemiplegic limb might account for the inter-side differences of CMAP amplitude. The usefulness of routine screening NCS in hemiplegic patients were questionable.

Key Words: Stroke, Nerve conduction studies, Screening, Carpal tunnel syndrome