Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2002 , Vol 48 , Num 6

Omurilik Yaralanmasında Elektrofizyolojik Tetkiklerin Prognozdaki Yeri

Müfit Akyüz 1 ,Barın Selçuk 2
1 Ankara Fizik Tedavi ve Rehabilitasyon Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Ankara, Türkiye
2 Ankara Fizik Tedavi ve Rehabilitasyon Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, 1. Fizik Tedavi ve Rehabilitasyon Kliniği, Ankara

Significance For Predicting Outcome of Electrophy- siological Studies in Spinal Cord Injury In patients with spinal cord injury, beside the clinical examination, electrophysiological examination also assesses the degree of neurological deficit, the level of injury and the prognosis for recovery from the injury.  In association with clinical examination that is usually the first and most important approach in the diagnostic assessment, electrophysiological studies can provide an early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation even in unconscious, uncooperative or incomprehensive patients. EMG, nerve conduction and reflex studies of acute spinal cord injury patients are sensitive in assessing an associated damage of the peripheral motor pathways. Electrophysiological recording of the central pathways (somato-sensory evoked potentials, motor evoked potentials) can be supplemantary to the clinical examination in predicting functional outcome of ambulatory capacity, hand and bladder function. Recordings of the sympathetic skin response can also provide information about the extent and level of lesions of the spinal sympathetic nervous system which are related to autonomic dysfunction. This article was reviewed to discuss the significance for predicting outcome of electrophysiological studies supplementary to the clinical examination for planning and selecting the appropriate therapeutical approaches within the rehabilitation programme of spinal cord injured patients.

Keywords : Spinal cord injury, electrophysiological studies, prognosis