Automated nerve conduction studies may sound appealing to patients because they are less invasive than needle electromyography. And to the physician with no formal electrodiagnostic training, the ability to perform an automated test in their office is convenient for patients and may generate additional revenue for their practice. Mayo Clinic electrodiagnostic physicians set out to evaluate the accuracy of an automated nerve conduction study device in patients experiencing unilateral leg symptoms and found that comfort and convenience are no substitute for accurate and quality diagnostic testing for patients.
The Mayo Clinic study found that automated nerve conduction studies had low specificity in the identification of lumbosacral radiculopathy (LSR) in individuals with unilateral leg symptoms. Additionally, the value of the device as a screening tool for LSR appears limited, as nearly every patient evaluated with automated testing demonstrated abnormalities that would likely be referred for further evaluation.
“The study results showed that this device overdiagnoses LSR. Patients could potentially be unnecessarily treated if treatment was done based on these results, or a large majority would be referred for a secondary study. To add another expense that is not giving any useful diagnostic screening information is probably not warranted. Most concerning is if a surgical procedure were being planned based on these results alone,” says Kevin Schmidt, M.D., a Mayo Clinic physician and author of this study.
This study was presented today at the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine 56th Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif.
View the AANEM news release on this study.
