Repeatability of nerve conduction measurements derived entirely by computer methods

BACKGROUND Nerve conduction studies are an objective, quantitative, and reproducible measure of peripheral nerve function and are widely used in the diagnosis of neuropathies. The purpose of this study is to determine the reliability of nerve conduction parameters derived entirely from computer based data acquisition and waveform cursor assignments and to quantify the relative contributions of test variability sources. METHODS Thirty volunteers, some with symptoms suggestive of neuropathies; of these, 29 completed the study. The median, ulnar, deep peroneal, posterior tibial, and sural nerves were evaluated bilaterally at two test sessions 3-7 days apart. Within each session, nerves were tested twice within 10 minutes. The analyzed nerve conduction parameters include motor latencies, motor conduction velocity (CV), compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude, F-wave latencies (minimum, mean and maximum), sensory peak latency (DSL), sensory CV, and sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude. The primary outcome measure is variance component analysis and the corresponding coefficient of variation (CoV). The between-session-test variance is the sum of within-session variance and between-session variance, quantifying the total variation between test sessions. Additional statistical measures include the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and relative interval variation (RIV). RESULTS Motor and sensory latencies, CV and F-wave latency parameters have low between-session-test CoVs, ranging from 4.2% to 9.8%. Amplitude parameters have a higher between-session-test CoVs in the range of 15.6--19.8%. Between-test CoVs are about 30--80% lower than between-session CoVs with the exception of F-wave latency parameters. Between-test ICC values are 0.96 or above for all parameters. Between-session ICC ranges from 0.98 for F-wave latency to 0.77 for sural sensory CV. All latency-related between-session ICCs have a value 0.83 or above. The RIVs are the tightest for F-wave latency parameters and widest for CMAP amplitude parameters. Repeatability in a sub-group of subjects with more severe symptom grades follows the same trend as the overall study population without substantial quantitative differences. CONCLUSION The study demonstrates the high repeatability of nerve conduction parameters acquired by modern electrodiagnostic instruments using computer based waveform cursor assignment. The reliability is comparable to benchmark studies in which the nerve conduction measurements were performed manually in controlled multi-center clinical trials. Furthermore, the ranking of reliability, whereby F-wave latencies have the best reproducibility and amplitudes the worst, is also consistent with the benchmark studies.