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Technical artifact simulating “Motor Axonopathy”
Author(s) -
Gilchrist James M.,
Dosremedios Edmund,
Johnson Gary,
Tornabene Joseph
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.880150403
Subject(s) - artifact (error) , motor nerve , signal (programming language) , motor activity , neuroscience , electrophysiology , repetition (rhetorical device) , nerve conduction velocity , sensory system , psychology , medicine , computer science , linguistics , philosophy , programming language
We describe 3 patients, referred for other problems, whose nerve conduction studies revealed low compound motor amplitudes, normal motor conduction velocities and normal sensory nerve studies, consistent with a motor axonopathy. EMG was normal. The unexpected nature of these findings precipitated a search for technical artifact. A partial transection of the active electrode was found. After replacement, repetition of the motor studies was normal. Our explanation was of a normal “reference” signal being subtracted from a present but diminished “active” signal.