[The problem of early diagnosis in discrete peripheral nerve lesions. Comparative study of F-wave latency and conventional motor nerve conduction velocity in healthy persons and diabetics (author's transl)].

In 71 healthy subjects and in 38 diabetics the shortest F-wave latencies were evaluated for the n.medianus, n.ulnaris, n.tibialis and n.peronaeus. The motor nerve conduction velocities calculated hereby for the upper and lower extremities were compared with the corresponding distal motor conduction velocities measured in the conventional manner. The comparison of the 2 differently defined motor conduction velocities in healthy and diabetic subjects yielded a better separation between the normal and pathological range in all 4 nerves with the method based on the F-wave latency. For the group of healthy subjects the statistical basis of a preliminary normal range of the F-wave latency was established and nomograms were provided on the basis of the 99% confidence limits which--knowing the length of the arm or leg--open the possibility to derive the corresponding motor conduction velocity.