Use of collision tests to identify physiological differences between the median and ulnar nerves |
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| Authors: | Magdalena Koszewicz MD PhD Mariusz Szydlo MD Jerzy Gosk MD PhD Malgorzata Wieczorek MSc PhD Slawomir Budrewicz MD PhD |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Neurology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556, Wroclaw, Poland;2. Department of Trauma and Hand Surgery, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland;3. Faculty of Earth Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Wrocław, Wroclaw, Poland |
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| Abstract: | Introduction: Median and ulnar nerves are used in comparative electrophysiological studies. We analyzed the conduction values in these hand nerves in healthy volunteers to find any physiological differences between them. Methods: We performed standard conduction studies and conduction velocity distribution (CVD) tests with estimation of 3 quartiles in 31 healthy right-handed volunteers (17 women, 14 men) with a mean age of 44.8 ± 15.5 years. Results: The conduction velocities in all quartiles of CVD tests were statistically faster in the ulnar nerve (P < 0.00001), with no differences in the spread of conduction values and no differences between sides. In the ulnar nerve, CVD velocities in all quartiles were faster in the female group (P < 0.05). Discussion: The ulnar nerve has more fibers conducting with high velocities than does the median nerve. Electrophysiological comparisons between hand nerves must be performed carefully. Muscle Nerve 59:470–474, 2019 |
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| Keywords: | collision technique conduction velocity distribution median nerve nerve conduction study physiology of nerve conduction ulnar nerve |
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