Kwast-Rabben O, Libelius R, Heikkilä H, Fagerlund M. Digital nerve somatosensory evoked potentials and MRI. Correlation analysis in patients with symptomatic cervical spine disorders.
Acta Neurol Scand 2008;
117:122-7. [PMID:
18184348 DOI:
10.1111/j.1600-0404.2007.00918.x]
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Analysis of the relationship between the symptoms, digital nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (D-SEP) and MRI, in patients with symptomatic cervical spine disorders (CSD).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
MRI and D-SEP following electrical stimulation of digits I, III and V in 44 patients.
RESULTS
Symptoms in the fingers correlated significantly with disk herniation at the corresponding cervical level and with spinal cord impingement at one or two adjacent rostral segments on MRI. D-SEP was abnormal in 52% of all patients. Among them, the groups with multiple and single level involved on MRI had 62% and 30% of abnormal somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP), respectively. Digit I-SEP abnormality was more often localized at the root level, while digit V-SEP at the spinal cord level above the dorsal nucleus. D-SEP correlated best with compression of the spinal cord at adjacent upper and especially the most rostral (C3-5) levels on MRI.
CONCLUSIONS
Accurate correlation of D-SEP and symptoms with MRI is essential for correct localization of lesions in patients with CSD.
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