Institute of Clinical Neurophysiology, Division of Neurology, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Institute of Clinical Neurophysiology, Division of Neurology, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Clin Neurophysiol. 2020 Jul;131(7):1672-1677. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2020.02.019. Epub 2020 Mar 9.
To report the sensitivity and the ability to precisely localize ulnar neuropathies at the elbow (UNE) of different severity by ultrasonography (US) and compare it to standard 10-cm nerve conduction studies (NCSs), and 2-cm short-segment NCSs (SSNCSs) across the elbow.
In a group of consecutive UNE patients, a prospective and blinded study was performed. The evaluation included clinical examination, electrodiagnostic (EDx) and US studies. We compared US and NCSs for sensitivity and the ability to precisely localize the UNE of different clinical severity.
We studied 202 affected arms of 197 UNE patients. Clinically very mild UNE was diagnosed in seven, mild in 43, moderate in 99 and severe in 53 arms. The sensitivities of SSNCSs were 14%, 67%, 93% and 100%, of 10-cm NCSs, 29%, 44%, 80% and 96%, and of US 14%, 47%, 59% and 89%, respectively. Precise UNE localization was possible using SSNCSs in 29%, 56%, 78% and 85%, and using US in 29%, 44%, 70% and 98%, respectively.
The present study demonstrated that NCSs are more sensitive than US for the diagnosis of UNE of all clinical grades of severity. US was more efficient in localizing clinically severe, and SSNCSs in localizing mild or moderate UNE.
We recommend SSNCSs as the first confirmatory test in UNE across all grades of severity.
报告超声(US)检查在不同严重程度肘部尺神经病变(UNE)中的敏感性和准确定位能力,并与标准 10cm 神经传导研究(NCS)和 2cm 短节段 NCS(SSNCS)进行比较。
在一组连续的 UNE 患者中,进行了一项前瞻性、盲法研究。评估包括临床检查、电诊断(EDx)和 US 研究。我们比较了 US 和 NCS 对不同临床严重程度的 UNE 的敏感性和准确定位能力。
我们研究了 197 例 UNE 患者的 202 只受累手臂。临床上诊断为非常轻度 UNE 的有 7 只手臂,轻度的有 43 只,中度的有 99 只,重度的有 53 只。SSNCS 的敏感性分别为 14%、67%、93%和 100%,10cm NCS 的敏感性分别为 29%、44%、80%和 96%,US 的敏感性分别为 14%、47%、59%和 89%。SSNCS 可准确定位 29%、56%、78%和 85%的 UNE,US 可准确定位 29%、44%、70%和 98%的 UNE。
本研究表明,与 US 相比,NCS 对所有严重程度的 UNE 诊断更敏感。US 更有利于定位临床严重的 UNE,而 SSNCS 更有利于定位轻度或中度 UNE。
我们建议 SSNCS 作为所有严重程度 UNE 的首选确诊试验。