{"title":"Clinical Efficacy of Ultrasound Guidance in Brachial Plexus Nerve Conduction Study: A Comparative Analysis.","authors":"Zheyuan Zhang, Xiuli Li, Guangju Qi, Huabin Zhang, Xinhong Feng, Zhiyong Bai","doi":"10.2174/0115734056377599250717101905","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Brachial plexopathy is a diagnostically challenging condition that requires a comprehensive evaluation, including physical examination, imaging, and Electrodiagnostic (EDx).</p><p><strong>Testing: </strong>Ultrasound guidance may improve the efficiency and precision of nerve conduction studies by addressing the limitations of blind techniques, such as discomfort and inaccurate localization.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We prospectively enrolled 30 patients undergoing electrodiagnostic testing. The left upper limb was examined with ultrasound guidance (Group A), while the right upper limb underwent the blind method (Group B). The examined nerves included the median, ulnar, radial, medial and lateral antebrachial cutaneous, axillary, musculocutaneous, suprascapular, and long thoracic nerves. Stimulation duration, number of stimulation attempts, average current, and total examination time were recorded. The differences in data between the two groups were compared and analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Group A demonstrated significantly lower stimulation duration (156.70±50.13 vs. 260.17±53.19 s), fewer stimulation attempts (17.73±3.94 vs. 25.80±5.23), and lower average current [32.45 (30.28, 40.13) vs. 42.75 (37.78,50.68) mA] compared to Group B (all P < 0.001). No significant difference was observed in total examination time (387.40 ± 33.72 vs. 372.00 ± 47.01 s; P = 0.150).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Ultrasound guidance improves procedural precision and reduces the need for repeated stimulations and higher electrical intensities. These benefits are achieved without extending the total examination time, making it a feasible and patient-friendly approach for routine use in clinical neurophysiology.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Ultrasound-guided nerve conduction studies of the brachial plexus enhance procedural efficiency and patient comfort compared to the blind method. Further large-scale studies are recommended to validate these findings and assess broader clinical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":54215,"journal":{"name":"Current Medical Imaging Reviews","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Current Medical Imaging Reviews","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115734056377599250717101905","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Brachial plexopathy is a diagnostically challenging condition that requires a comprehensive evaluation, including physical examination, imaging, and Electrodiagnostic (EDx).
Testing: Ultrasound guidance may improve the efficiency and precision of nerve conduction studies by addressing the limitations of blind techniques, such as discomfort and inaccurate localization.
Methods: We prospectively enrolled 30 patients undergoing electrodiagnostic testing. The left upper limb was examined with ultrasound guidance (Group A), while the right upper limb underwent the blind method (Group B). The examined nerves included the median, ulnar, radial, medial and lateral antebrachial cutaneous, axillary, musculocutaneous, suprascapular, and long thoracic nerves. Stimulation duration, number of stimulation attempts, average current, and total examination time were recorded. The differences in data between the two groups were compared and analyzed.
Results: Group A demonstrated significantly lower stimulation duration (156.70±50.13 vs. 260.17±53.19 s), fewer stimulation attempts (17.73±3.94 vs. 25.80±5.23), and lower average current [32.45 (30.28, 40.13) vs. 42.75 (37.78,50.68) mA] compared to Group B (all P < 0.001). No significant difference was observed in total examination time (387.40 ± 33.72 vs. 372.00 ± 47.01 s; P = 0.150).
Discussion: Ultrasound guidance improves procedural precision and reduces the need for repeated stimulations and higher electrical intensities. These benefits are achieved without extending the total examination time, making it a feasible and patient-friendly approach for routine use in clinical neurophysiology.
Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided nerve conduction studies of the brachial plexus enhance procedural efficiency and patient comfort compared to the blind method. Further large-scale studies are recommended to validate these findings and assess broader clinical applications.
臂丛病是一种诊断上具有挑战性的疾病，需要全面的评估，包括体格检查、影像学检查和电诊断（EDx）。测试：超声引导可以通过解决盲技术的局限性，如不适和定位不准确，提高神经传导研究的效率和精度。方法：我们前瞻性地招募了30例接受电诊断试验的患者。左上肢超声引导检查（A组），右上肢盲法检查（B组）。检查的神经包括正中神经、尺神经、桡神经、内侧和外侧肱前皮神经、腋窝神经、肌肉皮神经、肩胛上神经和胸长神经。记录刺激持续时间、刺激尝试次数、平均电流和总检查时间。比较分析两组数据差异。结果：A组刺激持续时间（156.70±50.13 vs 260.17±53.19 s）显著低于B组，刺激次数（17.73±3.94 vs 25.80±5.23）显著低于B组，平均电流(32.45 （30.28,40.13)vs 42.75 (37.78,50.68) mA）显著低于B组（P均< 0.001）。两组总检查时间（387.40±33.72 s vs 372.00±47.01 s）差异无统计学意义；P = 0.150)。讨论：超声引导提高了程序精度，减少了重复刺激和高电强度的需要。这些好处在不延长总检查时间的情况下实现，使其成为临床神经生理学常规使用的可行和患者友好的方法。结论：与盲法相比，超声引导下的臂丛神经传导研究提高了手术效率和患者舒适度。建议进一步的大规模研究来验证这些发现并评估更广泛的临床应用。
期刊介绍：
Current Medical Imaging Reviews publishes frontier review articles, original research articles, drug clinical trial studies and guest edited thematic issues on all the latest advances on medical imaging dedicated to clinical research. All relevant areas are covered by the journal, including advances in the diagnosis, instrumentation and therapeutic applications related to all modern medical imaging techniques.
The journal is essential reading for all clinicians and researchers involved in medical imaging and diagnosis.
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