TY - JOUR
T1 - Electrodiagnostic studies
T2 - Are they useful in clinical practice?
AU - Kothari, Milind J.
AU - Blakeslee, Mark A.
AU - Reichwein, Raymond
AU - Simmons, Zachary
AU - Logigian, Eric L.
PY - 1998/12
Y1 - 1998/12
N2 - Objective: Electrodiagnostic testing (eletromyography [EMG] and nerve conduction studies [NCS]) may result in some patient discomfort. The justification for such testing should be based on the expectation that the results will affect patient management. This study was conducted to determine how frequently the results of EMG/NCS change the clinical management of the patient. Methods: One investigator (MB) spoke to each referring physician after EMG/NCS to determine if any management decisions were altered by the test. Results: One hundred forty consecutive EMG/NCS records were obtained Follow-up was available on 100 patients. Of 78 patients with abnormal findings on EMG/NCS, 29 (37%) had a diagnosis different from the referring diagnosis. For 43 of the 78 (55%), the physician reported that additional diagnostic testing was undertaken or treatment plans were altered. Conclusion: EMG/NCS are useful, informative, and diagnostic in the management of various neurologic disorders.
AB - Objective: Electrodiagnostic testing (eletromyography [EMG] and nerve conduction studies [NCS]) may result in some patient discomfort. The justification for such testing should be based on the expectation that the results will affect patient management. This study was conducted to determine how frequently the results of EMG/NCS change the clinical management of the patient. Methods: One investigator (MB) spoke to each referring physician after EMG/NCS to determine if any management decisions were altered by the test. Results: One hundred forty consecutive EMG/NCS records were obtained Follow-up was available on 100 patients. Of 78 patients with abnormal findings on EMG/NCS, 29 (37%) had a diagnosis different from the referring diagnosis. For 43 of the 78 (55%), the physician reported that additional diagnostic testing was undertaken or treatment plans were altered. Conclusion: EMG/NCS are useful, informative, and diagnostic in the management of various neurologic disorders.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0003-9993(98)90411-7
DO - 10.1016/S0003-9993(98)90411-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 9862291
AN - SCOPUS:0031648046
SN - 0003-9993
VL - 79
SP - 1510
EP - 1511
JO - Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
JF - Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
IS - 12
ER -