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Digital nerve somatosensory evoked potentials and MRI. Correlation analysis in patients with symptomatic cervical spine disorders
Author(s) -
KwastRabben O.,
Libelius R.,
Heikkilä H.,
Fagerlund M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2007.00918.x
Subject(s) - somatosensory evoked potential , medicine , spinal cord , cord , somatosensory system , abnormality , magnetic resonance imaging , median nerve , cervical spine , anatomy , radiology , anesthesia , surgery , psychiatry
Objectives – Analysis of the relationship between the symptoms, digital nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (D‐SEP) and MRI, in patients with symptomatic cervical spine disorders (CSD). Materials and methods – MRI and D‐SEP following electrical stimulation of digits I, III and V in 44 patients. Results – Symptoms in the fingers correlated significantly with disk herniation at the corresponding cervical level and with spinal cord impingement at one or two adjacent rostral segments on MRI. D‐SEP was abnormal in 52% of all patients. Among them, the groups with multiple and single level involved on MRI had 62% and 30% of abnormal somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP), respectively. Digit I‐SEP abnormality was more often localized at the root level, while digit V‐SEP at the spinal cord level above the dorsal nucleus. D‐SEP correlated best with compression of the spinal cord at adjacent upper and especially the most rostral (C3‐5) levels on MRI. Conclusions – Accurate correlation of D‐SEP and symptoms with MRI is essential for correct localization of lesions in patients with CSD.