Normal values of lower limb nerve conduction in Kuwait. Part II

ABSTRACT

To establish the normal electrophysiological values of the common lower limb nerves and to study the relationship of conduction velocity [CV] of the lower limb nerves to height and age in healthy adult subjects. Nerve conduction investigations were performed on the lower limbs of 51 screened healthy volunteers using standard electrophysiological techniques. Fifty-one subjects [21 males and 30 females] participated in the study. The mean [ +/- SD] ages of the subjects were 38 [ +/- 8.82] and 36 [ +/- 8.58] years for males and females, respectively. The tibial motor nerve showed a mean [ +/- SD] CV of 46.1 [ +/- 3.3] m/s, distal latency [DL] 4.4 [ +/- 0.8] ms, and amplitude 8.8 [ +/- 3.4] mV for males. For females, the results were CV 47.8 [ +/- 3.4] m/s, DL 3.9 [ +/- 0.85] ms and amplitude 12.0 [ +/- 3.4] mV. Peroneal motor parameters were CV 47.1 [ +/- 3.3] m/s, DL 3.9 [ +/- 0.53] ms, amplitude 5.6 [ +/- 2.2] mV for males and 49.3 [ +/- 2.3] m/s, 4.0 [ +/- 0.56] ms, 6.0 [ +/- 2.2] mV for females, respectively. The sural sensory nerve parameters were CV 48.7 +/- 6.0 m/s, DL 2.9 [ +/- 0.3] ms, amplitude 18.9 [ +/- 3.3] micro V for males and 51.5 [ +/- 4.9] m/s, 2.7 [ +/- 0.24] ms and 21.6 [ +/- 6.3] micro V for females. Most CV values were significantly correlated with height, and there was a significant difference between males and females. However, after adjustment for height by the linear regression method, all significant gender differences disappeared. This study established the normative conduction parameters of the commonly tested nerves of the lower limbs for our electromyography laboratory in Kuwait. Gender differences disappeared when the data were adjusted for age and height