Nerve Conduction Studies and Electromyography in the Evaluation of Peripheral Nerve Injuries

Peripheral nerves are susceptible to a variety of injuries, often with coexistent orthopaedic trauma. Although the presence of nerve involvement in many circumstances may be clinically obvious, an appropriate therapeutic approach depends on more detailed information regarding the nature of the lesion. Electrodiagnostic studies (nerve conduction studies [NCS] and needle electromyography [EMG]) can provide precise information about the localization and severity of the nerve injury. These are particularly helpful when the clinical examination is limited by pain or poor effort on the part of the patient. In the case of severe injuries, these studies may provide evidence of nerve continuity. They also provide information about prognosis, allowing one to reliably estimate the timing and extent of recovery. Intraoperative studies, when performed at the appropriate time, may determine the need for nerve grafting.