ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The presence of a Tinel sign in leg nerves has been proposed as a criterion for decompressive surgery in polyneuropathy. We investigated the diagnostic yield of the Tinel sign for nerve entrapment and for distal symmetrical peripheral neuropathy (DSPN). METHODS: We prospectively tested for the Tinel sign at 3 sites of possible nerve entrapment per leg in 91 patients. Entrapment was defined using nerve conduction data. We also investigated whether the number of sites at which the Tinel sign was present identified patients with DSPN. RESULTS: Sensitivity of the Tinel sign for nerve entrapment was low (29%, 44%, and 17%) for the 3 sites, and specificity was moderate (86%, 75%, and 81%). In the subgroup with DSPN, sensitivity was extremely low (0%, 20%, and 8%), and specificity was moderate (91%, 79%, and 73%). The number of sites with a Tinel sign did not identify patients with DSPN. CONCLUSION: The Tinel sign does not reliably indicate nerve entrapment or DSPN. Muscle Nerve 54: 25-30, 2016.
Subject(s)
Leg/physiopathology , Nerve Compression Syndromes/diagnosis , Paresthesia/physiopathology , Polyneuropathies/diagnosis , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Leg/innervation , Male , Middle Aged , Neural Conduction/physiology , ROC Curve , Retrospective Studies , Young AdultABSTRACT
Trigeminal autonomic cephalgias (TACs) include cluster headache, paroxysmal hemicrania, and short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing. Associated structural lesions may be found, but a causal relationship is often difficult to establish. We sought to identify clinical predictors of underlying structural abnormalities by reviewing previously described and new TAC and TAC-like cases associated with a structural lesion. We found that even typical TACs can be caused by an underlying lesion. Clinical warning signs and symptoms are relatively rare. We recommend neuroimaging in all patients with a TAC or TAC-like syndrome.
