Neurol. praxi. 2017;18(6):373-379 | DOI: 10.36290/neu.2017.114

Neurophysiologcal methods in diagnosis of spinal cord lesions

prof. MUDr. Ivana Štětkářová, CSc.

Neurologická klinika, 3. lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy a FN KV, Praha

Neurophysiological methods are less and less significant contributing to diagnosis of spinal cord lesions in the period of continuoustechnical improvement of imaging methods such as magnetic resonance, PET/CT, etc. However, their benefit remains in diagnosis,prognosis, evidence of subclinical dysfunction, or clear evidence of a spinal cord lesion that is not apparent on morphologicalmethods. These morphological methods (magnetic resonance imaging, CT, x-ray) reliably determine anatomical proportions inthe spinal canal, including structures that are located near the spinal cord and spinal roots. A correlation between morphologicaland functional methods is required, based on a detailed history and objective clinical finding. Electrophysiological methods canbe used to determine dysfunction at the level of the spinal segment, spinal reflex arc, motoneuron or spinal pathways. In thisstudy we present an overview of neurophysiological methods used in the diagnosis of spinal dysfunctions (somatosensory andmotor evoked potentials, H reflex and F wave, cutaneous silent period).

Keywords: neurophysiological methods, spinal cord, somatosensory and motor evoked potentials, cutaneous silent period

Published: December 1, 2017  Show citation