Nerve Conduction Studies for Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Author Information
Author(s): Galloway Kathleen M, Lester Mark E, Evans Rachel K
Primary Institution: United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA, USA
Hypothesis
Can tibial motor nerve conduction studies from the flexor hallucis brevis provide reliable normative values for assessing tarsal tunnel syndrome?
Conclusion
Recording from the flexor hallucis brevis allows for better assessment of tibial nerve function in tarsal tunnel syndrome.
Supporting Evidence
- Motor latency, amplitude, and velocity values for the flexor hallucis brevis were established.
- Significant intraclass correlation coefficients indicated good reliability for the nerve conduction measures.
- The study provides reference values for medial and lateral plantar sensory measures.
Takeaway
This study shows that doctors can use a specific muscle in the foot to check how well the nerve works, which helps in diagnosing foot problems.
Methodology
Eighty healthy female participants underwent nerve conduction studies, with 39 returning for serial testing at four time points.
Limitations
Results may not be generalizable to other ages and genders as the study only included women aged 18 to 35.
Participant Demographics
Eighty healthy women aged 18 to 35.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p ≤ 0.007
Statistical Significance
p ≤ 0.007
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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