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A statistical study of ENoG test error
Author(s) -
Raslan Wasim F.,
Wiet Richard,
Zealear David L.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-198808000-00021
Subject(s) - electroneuronography , statistical analysis , observational error , medicine , degeneration (medical) , test (biology) , audiology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , computer science , statistics , mathematics , electromyography , pathology , paleontology , biology
Electroneurography (ENoG) is currently the most sophisticated and objective test available for assessing nerve degeneration in patients suffering from facial nerve paralysis. However, the test requires considerable experience before error due to intertest variability can be brought within reasonable limits. In a statistical study on normal participants, the error associated with two conventional recording techniques—optimized lead placement (OLP) and standardized lead placement (SLP)—was determined to be 17.8% and 20.7%, respectively. A significant increase in error was observed with the OLP approach (22.9%) if responses could not be monitored oscilloscopically, a common situation in patients with severe degeneration. In a final study, however, a previously unreported factor was found to significantly reduce test error: recording electrode size. In particular, unconventionally small recording electrodes (3 to 7 mm) produced as much as 4% less error when administering the technique.