The Medial Antebrachial Cutaneous Nerve : Orthodromic and Antidromic Conduction Studies

아래팔 내측분지신경의 자극하는 방법에 따른 신경전도검사의 비교

Background: The study of the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve (MABCN) is an underused electrodiagnostic tool. But its use is often crucial for assessing mild lower brachial plexus or MABCN lesions, and sometimes for differentiating an ulnar mononeuropathy from a lower brachial plexopathy. This study was designed to know the difference of amplitude and velocity in a stimulation method (orthodromic vs antidromic), side of an arm and sex according by age. Method: MABCN conduction studies were performed orthodromically and antidromically in 90 subjects (42 women and 48 men, ranging from 22 to 79 years of age). We divided subjects into three groups by age (group 1: 20-39 years, group 2: 40-59 years, group 3: 60-79 years). The mean sensory nerve action potential amplitudes and sensory nerve conduction velocities in each group was compared by stimulation method, side of an arm and sex. Result: The amplitudes and velocities made a significant difference between orthodromic and antidromic method in all age groups. At comparison in amplitude and velocity by side of an arm, only amplitude was significantly higher in right arm than left by any stimulation method. The amplitudes and velocities were of no statistically differences in sex except amplitude checked orthodromically in right arm. Conclusion: This study suggests that there is the differences in conduction study of MABCN by stimulation method and side of an arm.