Comparison of a digital electroneurometer and standard nerve conduction studies for the measurement of median nerve sensory latency.

The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of measuring median nerve distal sensory latency with a portable digital electroneurometer. The results from the digital electroneurometer were compared to standard nerve conduction studies in 51 subjects (40 asymptomatic hands and 12 hands with probable carpal tunnel syndrome). There was a high correlation (r=0.92) between the latencies obtained from the electroneurometer and the onset latencies measured by standard nerve conduction studies. The mean difference between distal sensory latencies for matched pairs of latency measurements was 0.09 (+/-0.21) ms. The use of the digital electroneurometer for obtaining distal sensory latencies proved to be objective and valid. The electroneurometer would be useful in a variety of occupational and clinical settings for screening of peripheral neuropathy where standard nerve conduction equipment may be unavailable or impractical.