Medial Plantar Sensory Nerve Action Potential: A Study for Reference Data in Indian Subjects

CONTEXT: The medial plantar nerve (MP) sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) has been shown to be a sensitive indicator for detecting a length-dependent axonal peripheral neuropathy. However, literature survey shows paucity of age stratified data. This study was undertaken to obtain age stratified reference data for MP SNAP amplitude and latency. AIM: To establish age-stratified reference data in Indian subjects for the MP SNAP. STUDY SETTING AND DESIGN: The study was conducted in the electrodiagnostic laboratory of a tertiary city hospital and is retrospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted using the nerve conduction study reports of 173 patients with only upper limb symptoms and findings. Patients were between the ages of 18 and 86 years, stratified into six groups, a = 18-30 years, b = 31- 40 years, c = 41-50 years, d = 51- 60 years, e = 61-70 years, f ≥70 years. STATISTICAL METHODS: Stata 12.1 statistical program was used. Lower limit of the SNAP amplitude was obtained using mean-2SD of transformed data. Analysis of variance defined the intergroup variability, linear regression and Pearson's correlation assessed the statistical significance. RESULTS: The lower limit of normal MP SNAP amplitude for each age group is as follows: a: 8.7uv b: 7.5uv c: 3.7 uv d: 2.9uv e: 2.0 uv f: 1.4uv. The amplitude difference between the groups b & c, c & d and e and f using analysis of variance with Bonferroni correction and Tukey post-hoc test was not significant, but the other groups showed statistically significant variance. The equation of regression for the predicted amplitude value with age was defined as Y^ = {3.5 + age (-.0233) – 2 (0.389)}(3). CONCLUSION: This study provides age stratified reference data for MP SNAP. There is evidence to suggest that MP SNAP amplitude varies with age hence age stratified data should be used to define abnormality.