Intraexaminer Variability of Nerve Conduction Study in Healthy Person

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 22(3); 2004 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2004;22(3): 235-239.

건강한 성인을 대상으로 시행한 신경전도검사의 검사자 내 변이

김서현, 김승민 정연경 강사윤 권순희 노숙영 정근호 문준식 권기한 남정모 선우일남

연세대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실, 예방의학교실*, 분당제생병원 신경과†, 국립의료원 신경과‡, 연세대학교 원주의과대학 신경과학교실§, 한림대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실

Intraexaminer Variability of Nerve Conduction Study in Healthy Person

Seo-Hyun Kim

Departments of Neurology and Preventive Medicine*, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul; Department of Neurology, Bundang Jasaeng Hospital†, Seongnam; Department of Neurology, National Medical Center‡, Seoul; Department of Neurology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine§, Wonju; Department of Neurology, Hallym University College of Medicine∥, ChunCheon, Korea

Abstract

Background: Nerve conduction study (NCS) is an objective and quantitative test in evaluating peripheral nerve disorders. Several physiological and technical factors are well known to influence the results of NCS, which can be controlled and regulated by standardization of environment and through the process to make range of normality. However, most electromyographers do not pay much attentions about inter- and intra-examiner variabilities, and there are only a few and incomplete reports on these topics. We examined the intra-examiner variability of NCS on the basis of periods of practice.
Methods: Twenty-eight electromyographers were divided into two groups: residents and neurologist-technicians. All, having variable NCS training periods, have performed NCS on one of other 27 electromyographers ten times within two weeks where each study was made once a day.
Results: Coefficient of variation and external quotient increased according to the following order－nerve conduction velocities (NCV), terminal latencies (TL), and amplitudes of compound action potentials (AMP). There were significant differences between the two groups in NCV and TL, but no statistical difference in AMP.
Conclusions: Our results suggest that errors from intra-examiner variability should be considered when interpreting NCS and that those electromyographers who have enough training should perform NCS. Key Words: Nerve conduction, Variation, Training