Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and usefulness of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve conduction study by comparing the modified Ma's method (method I) with the method proposed by Spevak and Prevec (method II) and to develop a standard value of the Korean normal adult by the method II.

Method: Twenty-nine healthy adults were examined for the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve conduction by both methods bilaterally. The nerve was stimulated 1 cm medial to anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) in the method I and 8 cm distal to ASIS in the method II. The sensory nerve action potential was recorded with 8 cm long strip electrodes placed on the thigh 17 cm distal to ASIS in the method I and 33 cm distal to ASIS in the method II.

Results: 1) Among 58 extremities, a sensory nerve action potential was detected in 52 extremities (89.7%) by the method I and in 57 extremities (98.3%) by the method II without a significant difference between both methods. 2) The mean distal latency was 3.41 msec by the method I and 4.56 msec by the method II. 3) The mean amplitude was 7.24 ㄍV by the method I and 6.63 ㄍV by the method II without a significant difference between both methods. 4) The mean conduction velocity was 50.9 m/sec by the method I and 55.2 m/sec by the method II without a significant difference between both methods.

Conclusion: According to the study, both methods are compatible and reliable for the examination of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve except for a significant difference in a mean conduction velocity.

Keywords :Spevak and Prevec's method, Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, Modified Ma's method, Spevak and Prevec's method