2022 Workshop Handout Bundle-NCS Pitfalls

NCS Pitfalls - Bassam

Pdf Summary

This document discusses common pitfalls in nerve conduction studies (NCS) and provides guidance on how to identify and resolve them. The pitfalls include issues with instrumentation and technical factors, such as incorrect amplifier settings and filter settings, unstable recording electrodes, and incorrect positioning of stimulating electrodes. The document also highlights the importance of replicating normative data and considering physiological factors like temperature, age, gender, height, and central modulation (facilitation) in NCS interpretation. <br /><br />The authors emphasize the need for practitioners to be aware of these pitfalls to ensure accurate diagnosis and avoid missing or incorrect interpretations. They recommend familiarizing oneself with the presentation and methods of correction for each artifact and anomaly. For example, the authors suggest rotating the anode about the cathode to reduce stimulus artifact, facilitating H-reflexes and F-waves to obtain responses that may appear absent initially, and ensuring optimal limb temperature to avoid temperature-related effects. <br /><br />Overall, this document emphasizes the importance of meticulous technique and careful analysis in NCS to obtain reliable results and make accurate diagnoses. By recognizing and addressing common pitfalls, clinicians can enhance the quality of electrodiagnostic studies and improve patient care.

Keywords

nerve conduction studies

pitfalls

instrumentation

technical factors

normative data

physiological factors

interpretation

stimulus artifact

H-reflexes

reliable results

ncs