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Electrophysiological Changes Due to Motor Nerve Injury

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Peripheral Nerve Lesions

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Abstract

The peripheral nerve lesions dealt with in clinical practice may be classified into four distinct categories: (a) block of impulse conduction without destruction of the axon, as observed in acute nerve compression; (b) axonal discontinuation followed by Wallerian degeneration due to nerve transection or severe traction of nerves; (c) axon stenosis, the common condition in entrapment neuropathies; and (d) double crush by two separate lesions at different levels, as may be found after nerve suture if the nerve is exposed to constriction by scar tissue. Electrophysiologically the reactions of motor nerves to such lesions cover a wide range of characteristic abnormalities that may be of diagnostic relevance. There is a well-defined basis for the coexistence of conduction block, slowing of conduction velocity, and axon degeneration in peripheral nerve compression (Gilliatt 1980). Precise analysis of each component is of clinical importance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mainz, Germany

    H. C. Hopf

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  1. H. C. Hopf
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Medical School Hanover, City of Hanover, Nordstadt Hospital, Haltenhoffstraße 41, 3000, Hannover 1, Germany

    M. Samii (Director of Neurosurgical Clinic) (Director of Neurosurgical Clinic)

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© 1990 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Hopf, H.C. (1990). Electrophysiological Changes Due to Motor Nerve Injury. In: Samii, M. (eds) Peripheral Nerve Lesions. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75611-5_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75611-5_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-75613-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-75611-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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