A 29-year-old woman presented with blurred vision and distal paresthesias. Her initial evaluation revealed severe bilateral optic disc edema with distal lower-extremity sensory and motor deficits and electrodiagnostic evidence of a length-dependent mixed demyelinating and axonal polyneuropathy. The results of routine diagnostic testing, including laboratory tests, magnetic resonance imaging, an...

The increased incidence of motor vehicle accidents during the past century has been associated with a significant increase in brachial plexus injuries. New imaging studies are currently available for the evaluation of brachial plexus injuries. Myelography, CT myelography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are indicated in the evaluation of brachial plexus. Moreover, a series of specialized e...

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common nerve entrapment. Electrodiagnostic (EDX) studies are a valid and reliable means of confirming the diagnosis. This monograph addresses the various EDX techniques used to evaluate the median nerve at the wrist. It also demonstrates the limitations of EDX studies with a focus on the sensitivity and specificity of EDX testing for CTS. The need to use...

The diagnosis of ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow has relied primarily on clinical and electrodiagnostic findings. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used in the evaluation of peripheral nerve entrapment disorders to document signal and configurational changes in nerves. In this case report we review the MRI and operative findings of a rare constriction band causing ulnar nerve compre...

The online-only version of this article, which offers more detailed information on additional selected causes of muscle weakness, is available at: http://www.aafp.org/ afp/URL. M uscle weakness is a common complaint among patients presenting to the family physician’s office. Although the cause of weakness occasionally may be apparent, often it is unclear, puzzling the physician and frustrating ...

This article overviews electrodiagnostic tests that provide evidence-based data in the treatment and management of abnormalities in nerves and muscles. There is a focused review on cardiac tests, nerve-conduction tests, low-back pain tests, seizure and epilepsy tests, and obstructive sleep apnea electrodiagnostic tests. Case reports demonstrate how these electrophysiologic tests can provide spe...

Electrodiagnostic procedures have contributed to the certainty of diagnosis of a variety of neurological and neuromuscular diseases in animals. Widespread use of electrodiagnosis is limited by equipment costs and training of personnel. However, many of these procedures are used routinely in case work-ups in veterinary colleges or specialty practices. The purpose of this chapter is to present a ...

Prior reports of handcuff-related neuropathies have been retrospective or small series of cases selected for their unusual electrophysiological or historical features. We conducted a prospective 27-month study at a large, urban, teaching hospital of all patients with a complaint of hand numbness, weakness, or paresthesias attributed to overtightened handcuffs. Forty-one patients were evaluated ...

Sciatic neuropathy is the second most common neuropathy of the lower extremity and a common cause of foot drop. This article reviews the anatomy, clinical features, pathophysiology, and electrodiagnostic assessment of sciatic neuropathies. There are multiple potential sites of pathology, determined in part by the mechanism of insult, including trauma, compression, masses, inflammation, and vasc...