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Comparison of cervical SEPs on median, radial and ulnar nerve stimulation

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Abstract

Cervical responses (SEPs) to stimulation of the median, radial and ulnar nerves were studied in 9 healthy subjects. In recordings from e Cv7 electrode referenced to a scalp electrode P11 presented a bilobed (P11a+P11b) profile for all three nerves whereas from Cv2 only P11b appeared as a rule. P11a and P11b were more distinct in the ulnar than in the median and radial nerves. The P11onset-P13onset interval was virtually the same for the radial and median nerves and approximately 0.4 msec longer for the ulnar nerve. This difference probably represents the Cv8 to Cv6 intramedullary conduction time. An exact evaluation of P11onset is possible only in low cervical recordings, though the P11peak may be a useful landmark when recording from Cv2. P11a would appear to originate at (or near) spinal entry, P11b high in the cervical cord and P13 at supraspinal level.

Sommario

In nove soggetti, sono state studiate le risposte cervicali da stimolazione dei nervi mediano, radiale ed ulnare. Utilizzando un riferimento cefalico, P11 appare bilobata, registrando da Cv7, per tutti e tre i nervi, mentre solo la seconda delle due subcomponenti (P11a e P11b, rispettivamente) viene registrata generalmente da Cv2. P11a e P11b sono meglio distinte fra di loro nel caso del nervo ulnare, che non del radiale o mediano. L'intervallo P11onset-P13onset è sovrapponibile fra mediano e radiale e circa 0.45 msec più lungo per il nervo ulnare; questa differenza dovrebbe essere dovuta ad un tempo di conduzione intramidollare fra Cv8 e Cv6. Una esatta valutazione di P11onset è possibile solo a livello cervicale inferiore, mentre il picco P11b può essere utilizzato nel computo delle latenze solo da Cv2. P11a dovrebbe originare all'ingresso spinale, P11b nel tratto cervicale superiore, P13 a livello sopraspinale.

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D'Alpa, F. Comparison of cervical SEPs on median, radial and ulnar nerve stimulation. Ital J Neuro Sci 6, 177–183 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02229189

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