Spinal cord
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Clinical Trial
Diagnostic and prognostic value of compound motor action potential of lower limbs in acute paraplegic patients.
To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic contribution of motor nerve conduction studies (NCS) in addition to neurological examination in patients with acute paraplegia. ⋯ In contrast to patients with an epiconal SCI almost all patients with damage of the conus/cauda present a severe axonal neuropathy of the tibial and peroneal nerves. Pathological CMAPs develop as early as 1 - 2 weeks after onset of acute paraplegia. They allow, at an early stage, to differentiate between conus/cauda or epiconal lesion and to assess the severity of conus/cauda lesion. Thereafter follow-up examinations remain stable and a developing worsening of peripheral nerve or spinal cord function, eg due to post-traumatic syringomyelia, may be indicated by a secondary deterioration of CMAP values. The clinical examination, according to the ASIA protocol, in acute paraplegia patients, in contrast to the motor nerve conduction studies, is of prognostic value in predicting the outcome of ambulatory capacity.