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Table 1. Findings of Nerve Conduction Studies and EMG in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ^[1]

Severity of Carpal Tunnel	Sensory Nerve Action Potential	Compound Motor Action Potential	Needle EMG Activity
Mild	Prolonged latency	Normal	Normal
Moderate	Prolonged latency and decreased amplitude	Prolonged latency	Normal
Severe	Absent	Prolonged latency and decreased amplitude	Abnormal activity

Table 2. Common Disorders ^[2]

Disorder	Distal Motor Latency	Distal Sensory Latency	Conduction Velocity	Amplitude of the Evoked Response
Motor neuron disease	Normal	Normal	Normal	Reduced
Axonal polyneuropathy	Normal	Normal	Slight decrease	Reduced
Demyelinating polyneuropathy	Prolonged	Prolonged	Decreased	Normal
Entrapment neuropathy	Normal (may be prolonged if this is a distal entrapment such as carpal tunnel syndrome)	Normal (May be prolonged if this is a distal entrapment such as carpal tunnel syndrome)	Decreased at the entrapment region	May be decreased when stimulating proximal to the site of entrapment
Radiculopathy	Normal	Normal	Normal	Motor response may be decreased
Myopathies	Normal	Normal	Normal	Decreased motor amplitudes

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Author

Stephen Kishner, MD, MHA Professor of Clinical Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program Director, Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans

Stephen Kishner, MD, MHA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Lindsay Elliott, DO Resident Physician, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans

Lindsay Elliott, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American Osteopathic Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Benjamin D Hefner, DO, MS Resident Physician, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Louisiana State University Health Science Center

Benjamin D Hefner, DO, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Osteopathic College of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sigma Sigma Phi

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Jonathan P Miller, MD Director, Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery, Director of Epilepsy Surgery, Attending Neurosurgeon, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center; Director, Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery Center, UH Cleveland Medical Center Neurological Institute; Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, Fellowship Director, Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Associate Residency Program Director, Department of Neurosurgery, Surgical Director, Neuromodulation Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Jonathan P Miller, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, American Epilepsy Society, American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, International Neuromodulation Society, North American Neuromodulation Society, Ohio State Neurosurgical Society, Society of Neurological Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Studies Questions & Answers

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