Open AccessA new depth-sense esthesiometer. A comparative study on sensitivity.
Author(s) -
Dipal Chatterjee
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of work, environment and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.621
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1795-990X
pISSN - 0355-3140
DOI - 10.5271/sjweh.2034
Subject(s) - medicine , reliability (semiconductor) , anesthesia , quantum mechanics , power (physics) , physics
The structure and functions of a depth-sense esthesiometer have been described. Unlike the prototype designed by Renfrew, the new instrument is so fabricated that the speed and the directions of its movements, and the pressure applied by the finger, can be constantly controlled. In addition, it provides an automatic measurement of depth-sense thresholds with greater accuracy. Thirty-three normal subjects and nine patients were examined with both instruments. With the new esthesiometer all normal hands, as expected, showed normal results, but, with the Renfrew instrument, 12 of these 66 hands (18%) showed abnormal results. Similarly, on examination of the hands of the nine patients, the new instrument showed equally improved reliability.