Can ultrasound of the tibial nerve detect diabetic peripheral neuropathy? A cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Peripheral nerve imaging by portable ultrasound (US) may serve as a noninvasive and lower-cost alternative to nerve conduction studies (NCS) for diagnosis and staging of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSP). We aimed to examine the association between the size of the posterior tibial nerve (PTN) and the presence and severity of DSP.

Research design and methods

We performed a cross-sectional study of 98 consecutive diabetic patients classified by NCS as subjects with DSP or control subjects. Severity was determined using the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score. A masked expert sonographer measured the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the PTN at 1, 3, and 5 cm proximal to the medial malleolus.

Results

Fifty-five patients had DSP. The mean CSA of the PTN in DS

SUBMITTER: Riazi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3507587 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature