Pelvic floor nerve conduction studies: Establishing clinically relevant normative data

Ambre L. Olsen, Mark Ross, R. Brent Stansfield, Clarence Kreiter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to establish data for normative distributions for pudendal and perineal nerve compound muscle action potential data in healthy women across a wide age range and varied history of vaginal deliveries. STUDY DESIGN: We studied 42 continent women, aged 20 to 67 years, including 29% nulliparous women with a disposable St. Mark's electrode to stimulate the pudendal nerve at the ischial spine by a transvaginal approach. The pudendal terminal motor latency and amplitude were detected with the use of surface patch electrodes overlying the external anal sphincter; the perineal responses were measured with the use of a surface ring electrode at the proximal urethra. RESULTS: None of the data were distributed normally and required the use of negative inverse and cube root transformations to create a normal distribution. Clinical correlations were found with advancing age and vaginal delivery. CONCLUSION: The collection of these data allows for the definition of normal limits and begins the study of clinically important variables on test results and clinical outcomes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1114-1119
Number of pages6
JournalAmerican journal of obstetrics and gynecology
Volume189
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2003

Keywords

  • Nerve conduction studies
  • Pelvic floor dysfunction
  • Perineal nerve
  • Pudendal nerve

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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