Effects of electrophysiological examination on assessment of compression of nerve in patients with thoracic outlet syndrome

Xiaojun ZHENG; Pin SONG

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Thoracic outlet syndrome can be divided into nervous system type and vascular type according to different compressed structure. Nervous system type has typical clinic manifestations,physical signs,radiological evidence and electromyogram variation. So,there is wide prospect for clinic application about evaluation of compression of nerve in patients with thoracic outlet syndrome by electrophysiological examination.

OBJECTIVE:

To study diagnostic significance of electrophysiological examination to thoracic outlet syndrome.

DESIGN:

A completed and randomized research based on patients.

SETTING:

An electrophysiological department in a municipal hospital.

PARTICIPANTS:

Twenty patients diagnosed as thoracic outlet syndrome were collected in Neurology and Neurosurgery Department,Hand Surgery Department and Clinic of Dalian Central Hospital from April 1998 to July2002,in which there were 5 males and 15 females,aged 31 -67,average46.0 years,with course of 2 - 7 years,average 4.5 years.

METHODS:

Nerve conduction velocity,wave amplitude and corresponding muscular needle electrode electromyogram(EMG) of median nerve,ulnar nerve,interior and exterior cutaneous nerve in forearm,suprascapular nerve,axillary nerve,musculocutaneous nerve,radial nerve were tested by keypoint myoelectricity evoked potential equipment made in Denmark.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

The results of nerve electrophysiological examination.

RESULTS:

The type of compression of nerve trunk manifested as slower sensory and motor conduction velocity of nerve dominated by corresponding trunk across axillary section,lower wave amplitude and loss of nerve of corresponding muscle.

CONCLUSION:

Nerve electrophysiological examination is of important significance to diagnose thoracic outlet syndrome.