Electrophysiological Correlation of Motor Recovery Following Median and Ulnar Nerve Injuries: A Prospective Observational Study

Abstract Background: A paucity of consensus still persists regarding the comparison of electrophysiological findings with clinical motor improvement pattern in hand function following traumatic nerve injuries in the distal forearm. Aims and Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between electrophysiological findings and clinical improvement in motor function during the rehabilitative phases of traumatic median and ulnar nerve injuries in the forearm. Materials and Methods: After receiving approval from the institutional ethics committee, this observational study was initiated at the physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital on patients who were on rehabilitative phases after repair surgery of traumatic median and ulnar nerve injuries in the forearm. After considering inclusion and exclusion criteria, initially 39 cases were enlisted and the following parameters were assessed periodically on the 6 th and 9 th months: (i) electrophysiological assessment of distal median and ulnar motor latency and amplitude through motor nerve conduction study (NCS) and (ii) clinical motor recovery was assessed with hand grip measurements, power grading of muscles supplied by median and ulnar nerves and with Rosen score (motor). Data of 38 cases were analysed as there was a dropout. Results: Insignificant correlation/poor agreement was noted between NCS and all the clinical parameters of motor recovery ( k < 0.2). Conclusion: No correlation was found between electrophysiological changes and clinical motor recovery in post-traumatic nerve injuries of the forearm.