This is the current release of the guideline.

It is the opinion of the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AAEM) that all of the literature reviewed and describing the nervepace digital electroneurometer (NDE) and neurosentinel (NS) are flawed. Limb temperature, which affects the speed of nerve conduction, was controlled in only one study. In most reports, reference populations were not studied to provide a scientifically based source for control values. Standard statistical measures of latency values (mean, standard deviation, and range) were not specified in most reports. Moreover, most studies comparing NDE and NS to standard nerve conduction studies (NCSs) make an incorrect assumption: that distal motor latency or an isolated digital sensory latency value are sensitive measures for diagnosing median nerve entrapment at the wrist. In fact, detailed sensory NCSs, including segmental stimulation across the palm-to-wrist segment or in comparison to adjacent sensory nerves, is by far the more sensitive technique in this regard and is probably the earliest finding in median nerve entrapment at the wrist.

It is the opinion of the AAEM that the NDE, as well as the newer NS, are experimental and are not effective substitutes for standard electrodiagnostic studies in clinical evaluation of patients with suspected CTS. For more details refer to the "Critique of the Technology" section in the original guideline document.

None provided

The recommendations are based on a critical review of the current scientific and clinical information.

Not applicable: Guideline was not adapted from another source.

2003 Mar

American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine - Medical Specialty Society

American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM)

Not stated

Primary Authors: William S. David, MD, PhD; Vinay Chaudhry, MD; Andrew H. Dubin, MD, MS; Robert W. Shields, Jr., MD

Not stated

This is the current release of the guideline.

None available

None available

This NGC summary was completed by ECRI on December 1, 2003.