Polyneuropathy is disease causing dysfunction of peripheral nerve axone, their myelin sheath, or both.

Polyneuropathy is a disorder in which nerve conduction studies and eletromyographic findings can be of great value in confirming the diagnosis, idnetifying the segmants of diseased nerve and detemining prognosis.

This study was performed in 60 patients with idiopathic polyneuritis (male;43, female;27) ranging in age from 3-65 years.

Motor conduction velocities and distal latencies had been studied in peroneal, tibial, median and ulnar nerves, and sensory conduction velociteis and distal latencies had been studies in peroneal, tibial, median, ulnar and radial nerves.

Electromyographic study was performed on the muscles of upper and lower extremities and H reflex examination was performed at gastrochemius muscles.

The results obtained were summarized as follows;

1. Delayed velocity, diminished amplitude, no conduction or prolonged latency of evoked action potentials in motor nerve conduction study were observed in 97.14% of peroneal, 91.51% of tibial, 74.44% of median and 81.11% of ulnar nerve. The order of involved nerves were tibial, peroneal, median and ulnar nerve. The largest proportion of abnormality was combination of delayed velocity, diminished amplitude and prolonged latency(25.07%).

2. Delayed velocity, no conduction or prolonged latency in sensory nerve conduction studies were observed in 79.61% of peroneal, 98.88% of tibial, 56.96% of median, 64.77% of ulnar and 56.25% of raidal nerve. The order of involved nerves were tibial, peroneal, ulnar, median and raidal nerve. The largest proportion of a bnormality was no conduction(55.59%).

3.1) The mean values of motor conduction velocity of 60 polyneuropathy patients were

In all samples included: 43.98±8.92m/sec of peroneal, 40.23±8.97m/sec of tibial, 53.72±14.55m/sec of median and 54.75±15.47m/sec of ulnar nerve.

Only in abnormal samples: 37.90±5.15m/sec of peroneal, 35.47±5.60m/sec of tibial, 43.10±8.92m/sec of median, 43.11±8.73m/sec of ulnar nerve.

2) The mean values of distal latency of motor action potential in 60 polyneuropathy patients were

In all samples included: 5.96±3.04 msec Of peroneal, 6.38±2.47 msec of tibial, 3.33±1.6 msec of median and 3.07±1.7 msec of ulnar nerve.

Only in abnormal samples: 7.05±3.09 msec of peroneal, 7.90±2.13 msec of tibial, 4.97±1.82 msec of median and 4.52±1.77 msec of ulnar nerve.

4.1) The mean values of sensory conduction velocity of 60 polyneuropathy patients were

In all samples included: 46.64±14.62m/sec of peroneal, 39.96±12.22m/sec of tibial, 57.82±12.5m/sec of median, 61.17±12.03m/sec of ulnar and 57.73±12.56m/sec of radial nerve.

Only in abnormal samples: 32.20±3.74m/sec of peroneal, 31.52±3.96m/sec of tibial, 46.7±7.44m/sec of median, 46.78±4.4m/sec of ulnar and 4.66±7.9m/sec of radial nerve.

2) The mean values of distal latency of sensory action potential in 60 polyneuropathy patients were

In all samples included: 4.39±2.92 msec Of peroneal, 9.63±2.5 msec of tibial, 3.22±0.95 msec of median, 3.43±1.64 msec of ulnar and 2.63±0.62 msec of radial nerve.

Only in abnormal samples: 7.55±3.15 msec of peroneal, 9.62±2.53 msec of tibial, 4.29±0.82 msec of median, 5.26±1.84 msec of ulnar and 4.23±0.61 msec of radisl nerve.

5. On electromyographic examination, fibrillation potentials and positive sharp waves at rest were found in 47 cases (78.33%). On volitoinal efforts, increased polyphasic potentials (37 cases, 61.67%) and decreased numbers of motor units or no motor unit (45 cases, 75%) were observed.

6. Nerve conduction study and EMG fingings according to time from onset tosstudy:

delayed velocity, diminished amplitude, prolonged distal latency of action potentials in nerve conduction study & fibrillation potentials and positive sharp waves at rest, increased polyphasic potentials and decreased numbers of motor units or mo motor units on volitional effrot in EMG could already be observed within 15 days. The earliest findings were diminished amplitude in motor conduction study & conduction in sensory conduction study.

In 2 years, abnormal EMG findings could be observed in all cases.

7. H reflex examination was performed in 23 cases.

18 cases(78.26%) showed no response or delay in latency.