Bolcato Marilena, Roccaro Mariana, Jacinto Joana G P, Peli Angelo, Gentile Arcangelo, Bianchi Ezio
Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40064 Bologna, Italy.
Department for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy.
Vet Sci. 2022 Mar 15;9(3):136. doi: 10.3390/vetsci9030136.
Electrodiagnostic testing by using electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS) is essential in the evaluation of patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury as it facilitates the localization of the lesion and the prognosis. In this case report, we present a long-term electrodiagnostic follow-up of a 5-day-old female Holstein calf with brachial plexus syndrome. Electrodiagnostic studies were carried out at 2 weeks, 5 weeks, 7 months and 12 months after admission. Initially, EMG confirmed the damage to the brachial plexus, potentially indicating a condition of neurotmesis or axonotmesis. However, motor NCS and the repeated electrodiagnostic follow-up, along with the evolution of the clinical signs, allowed a more favorable diagnosis of axonotmesis to be made. In fact, EMG showed a slow but gradual reduction and finally the disappearance of spontaneous pathological activity, while motor NCS revealed an increase in the amplitude and areas of the compound muscle action potentials. The animal was deemed fully recovered 12 months after admission. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report on the use of motor NCS in bovine medicine and it demonstrates that electrodiagnostics represent a useful and practical tool for the evaluation and prognosis of brachial plexus injury cases in cattle.
通过肌电图（EMG）和神经传导研究（NCS）进行的电诊断测试对于评估创伤性臂丛神经损伤患者至关重要，因为它有助于病变的定位和预后判断。在本病例报告中，我们展示了一头5日龄患有臂丛神经综合征的雌性荷斯坦犊牛的长期电诊断随访情况。在入院后2周、5周、7个月和12个月进行了电诊断研究。最初，肌电图证实了臂丛神经损伤，这可能表明存在神经断裂或轴突断裂的情况。然而，运动神经传导研究以及重复的电诊断随访，连同临床症状的演变，使得能够做出更乐观的轴突断裂诊断。事实上，肌电图显示自发病理活动缓慢但逐渐减少，最终消失，而运动神经传导研究则显示复合肌肉动作电位的幅度和面积增加。该动物在入院12个月后被认为已完全康复。据作者所知，这是关于运动神经传导研究在牛医学中应用的首份报告，它表明电诊断是评估和判断牛臂丛神经损伤病例预后的一种有用且实用的工具。
