Today we will tell you what ENMG of the upper and lower extremities is. In addition, you will learn how to carry out the named procedure, in what cases it is appointed and how much it costs.
General information
Electroneuromyography of the lower extremities (or upper) is a diagnostic method by which the functions of the peripheral nervous system are controlled . Using electrical impulses, specialists can quickly determine the place, extent and cause of violations of their conduct.
What is it assigned to?
ENMG of the lower extremities is a well-established method of functional diagnosis. Its main goals are:
- determination of the topic and nature of the damage, as well as the prevalence of the process itself;
- determination of the degree of disturbance in work or damage to the neuromuscular system;
- determination of the severity of the pathological process.
In what cases should be carried out?
Electroneuromyography of the lower extremities (the price of this procedure is presented below) is very often used by the attending doctor to make and clarify the diagnosis (a wide range of diseases of the peripheral nervous system). In addition, this method is used to determine the tactics of further therapy, the prognosis of the development of the disease.
So, ENMG of the lower extremities is carried out in the following cases:
- with traumatic injuries of the radial, ulnar, median, femoral, large and fibular nerve, as well as other nerves of the human peripheral system;
- with plexopathy (that is, lesions of the nerve plexuses of the anterior spinal branches, in which sensitive, trophic and motor disorders are observed);
- with polyneuropathy of various origins:
- with post diphtheria, post-vaccination polyneuropathy;
- with lead, chlorophosic polyneuropathy (that is, damage to the motor fibers of the nerves);
- with dysmetabolic polyneuropathy, which may occur due to the presence of somatic diseases, that is, diabetes mellitus, liver and kidney disease, as well as the digestive canal, etc.
- with diabetic polyneuropathy ;
- with polyneuropathy, which arose against a background of vasculitis or systemic diseases of the connective tissues.
- neural amyotrophy (Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease) ;
- tunnel neuropathy;
- spinal osteochondrosis, which is accompanied by the presence of radicular syndrome;
- syringomyelia, that is, a chronic disease of the nervous system, which is accompanied by the appearance of voids in the spinal cord.
What does lower limb enmg include?
The presented diagnostic method includes:
- hardware assessment of the operation of sensitive fibers of the peripheral system;
- neurological examination;
- hardware assessment of the motor fibers of the peripheral system;
- clarification of the degree of damage to muscle tissues and the volume of their involvement in the pathological process (carried out using a needle electrode);
- analysis of all information received, as well as writing a conclusion.
After an ENMG of the lower extremities (or upper), the specialist writes a conclusion, which indicates the degree, localization, as well as the pathogenetic type (if any) of the lesion of the peripheral nervous system.
Another area of application
It should be specially noted that the health of various internal organs depends on the state of individual elements of the peripheral nervous system. In this regard, the presented method is very often used for the diagnosis of urological, endocrinological and other diseases.
What is the difference between EMG and ENMG?
Electroneuromyography includes a study of the conduction of impulses along nerve fibers. As for electromyography, this is just a kind of registration of electrical activity that occurs as a result of contraction of muscle tissue. Although in practice the modern algorithm of such a study does not provide for the implementation of EMG in isolation, that is, without studying the speed of impulses along nerve fibers. That is why, when the treating doctor offers the patient to do electromyography, the latter can safely record on ENMG.
Electroneuromyography of the lower extremities: how to do it?
This procedure is carried out using a special device - a myograph. It records the nature of muscle tissue contractions and the degree of conduction of nerve fibers. For this patient, they are placed on a special couch, and then sensors are placed on certain areas of his legs, which later evaluate and transmit data on neuromuscular impulses to the screen. In other words, such a device determines the condition of the motor and sensory nerves of the legs, which subsequently greatly facilitates the diagnosis and selection of the necessary therapy.
Types of Examination
Electroneuromyography of the lower extremities, the price of which directly depends on the chosen diagnostic method, is divided into three different types:
- Needle ENMG. This procedure is based on a study of the functional activity of muscle tissue. It is carried out using special needle electrodes that are inserted directly into the muscles.
- Surface ENMG. This method reveals the effectiveness of the passage of nerve impulses along nerve peripheral fibers. This is carried out using surface electrodes that are superimposed on certain parts of the body and areas of the skin. This research method allows you to register the activity of muscle tissue with their arbitrary contraction.
- Stimulating ENMG. This procedure is similar to the surface. However, during its implementation, simultaneous stimulation of nerve fibers, which are located at a remote distance from the recording electrodes, is necessary.
Thus, the use of all three methods allows you to very quickly and reliably assess the state of the human neuromuscular system. In addition, these methods help diagnose the stage, degree and level of the pathological process, as well as determine the existing deviation.
Duration of the procedure
Electroneuromyography is prescribed by doctors individually and depends on the diagnosis (often non-final). On average, this procedure lasts for 60 minutes. In most cases, the specialists of the clinics where ENMG is performed use only disposable electrodes for research. In this case, the conclusion is issued to the patient on the day of the procedure.
The cost of electroneuromyography
How much does a procedure like lower limb enmg cost? The price of this study varies depending on what type it is used:
- Stimulation standard electroneuromyography, including needle-based - about 3000-3500 Russian rubles.
- Expanded electroneuromyography (1 degree of difficulty), including needle - about 4000 Russian rubles.
- Advanced electroneuromyography of the 2nd degree of complexity, including needle - about 5000 Russian rubles.
It should be specially noted that all the prices mentioned are conditional and may vary significantly in different medical institutions.