Neurophysiopathology

Abstract

Until the 1960s the neurophysiopathological diagnosis of myeloradicular compressions relied upon electromyography (EMG) and neurography, while neuroelectric examination had been practically abandoned in clinical practice. The possiblity of easily distinguishing muscle diseases from neuropathologies, including peripheral forms from spinal lesions, had largely favoured its use. Nevertheless, the use of EMG for diagnosis of spinal cord neoplasms allowed a valuable functional evaluation of myeloradicular structures only at the level of cervical and lumbar enlargements. The computer revolution over the past 30 years has brought the development of biomedical electronic engineering and improved neurophysiopathological procedures of greater reliability and extent of application.