To date, there exist no data reporting the level of suitability of requests for electromyography examinations (EMGs) in Rome. The records of 1,220 consecutive patients (age: 57.6±15.0 years; 400 M, 820 F) in two neurophysiology laboratories were collected and analyzed. In total, 1,317 EMGs were requested, mainly by general practitioners (GPs) (57%) and orthopedic specialists (18%). The most common diagnoses were L4- L5 radiculopathy (22%) and carpal tunnel syndrome (21%); 332 examinations (25%) were normal. 68% of requests were not accompanied by any specific query. The concordance between initial hypothesis/final post-EMG diagnosis was low (<20%). When a specific query was indicated, the initial suspicion was confirmed by EMG in 54% of GP requests and 64% of requests by specialists (p=0.03). No difference in diagnostic ability was found between specialists (p>0.05). In 17% of cases, the EMG was deemed diagnostically useless by the neurophysiologist, which seems to indicate potentially suboptimal prescription of EMGs.

Requests for electromyography in Rome: A critical evaluation / DI FABIO, Roberto; C., Castagnoli; A., Madrigale; M., Barella; Serrao, Mariano; Pierelli, Francesco. - In: FUNCTIONAL NEUROLOGY. - ISSN 0393-5264. - ELETTRONICO. - 28:4(2013), pp. 281-284. [10.11138/fneur/2013.28.4.281]

Requests for electromyography in Rome: A critical evaluation

DI FABIO, ROBERTO;SERRAO, Mariano;PIERELLI, Francesco
2013

Abstract

To date, there exist no data reporting the level of suitability of requests for electromyography examinations (EMGs) in Rome. The records of 1,220 consecutive patients (age: 57.6±15.0 years; 400 M, 820 F) in two neurophysiology laboratories were collected and analyzed. In total, 1,317 EMGs were requested, mainly by general practitioners (GPs) (57%) and orthopedic specialists (18%). The most common diagnoses were L4- L5 radiculopathy (22%) and carpal tunnel syndrome (21%); 332 examinations (25%) were normal. 68% of requests were not accompanied by any specific query. The concordance between initial hypothesis/final post-EMG diagnosis was low (<20%). When a specific query was indicated, the initial suspicion was confirmed by EMG in 54% of GP requests and 64% of requests by specialists (p=0.03). No difference in diagnostic ability was found between specialists (p>0.05). In 17% of cases, the EMG was deemed diagnostically useless by the neurophysiologist, which seems to indicate potentially suboptimal prescription of EMGs.
2013
requests; rome; diagnostic ability; electromyography
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Requests for electromyography in Rome: A critical evaluation / DI FABIO, Roberto; C., Castagnoli; A., Madrigale; M., Barella; Serrao, Mariano; Pierelli, Francesco. - In: FUNCTIONAL NEUROLOGY. - ISSN 0393-5264. - ELETTRONICO. - 28:4(2013), pp. 281-284. [10.11138/fneur/2013.28.4.281]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/558952
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