Objective
To verify the reproducibility of nerve conduction studies, identify the most reproducible parameters and evaluate the acceptable ranges of parameters for patients with diabetic neuropathy. Method: Motor and sensory nerve conduction studies with F waves were studied in the median, ulnar, peroneal, tibial and sural nerves on two occasions. Fifty patients diagnosed with diabetes were assigned to an intra-rater reproducibility group (n=30) and another group (n=20) to an inter-rater reproducibility group; not in sequence. Twenty-two healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to an intra-rater reproducibility group as controls. Results: In the control group, the median motor distal latency (r=0.968) was the most reproducible parameter. For the intra-rater examinations in patients with diabetes, the ulnar F wave (r=0.977) was the most reproducible parameter. For the inter-rater examinations in patients with diabetes, the median sensory latency (r=0.986) was the most reproducible parameter. The differences in the values, in repeated studies, were not statistically significant for both the intra-rater and inter-rater groups. Conclusion: The nerve conduction study is an objective and highly reproducible test. F waves and other nerve conduction parameters were reproducible in patients with diabetic neuropathy. In repeated nerve conduction studies the parameters identified out of the acceptable ranges would be of great value in the evaluation of patients with diabetic neuropathy progression. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2007; 31: 699- 704)
