Teachable Moment: Fibrillation Potentials and Regular Firing Pattern-Video

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses fibrillation potentials, which are abnormal spontaneous waveforms recorded during needle EMG. They are typically seen in denervated muscle fibers and are characterized by a regular firing pattern, with a gradual increase in the inter-spike interval or a gradual slowing of the potentials. However, there are rare instances, particularly in early denervation, where fibrillation potentials can fire in an irregular pattern, resembling in-plate spike firing patterns. It is important to be cautious in interpreting irregular firing spikes, but when seen in multiple areas of the muscle alongside regular fibrillation potentials, they can be considered irregular fibrillation potentials. Overall, fibrillation potentials generally fire in a regular pattern, but irregular firing can occur in specific circumstances.

Keywords

fibrillation potentials

needle EMG

abnormal waveforms

denervated muscle fibers

irregular firing patterns