American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM)

The guideline, entitled, Evidence-based Guideline Summary: Diagnosis and Treatment of Limb-Girdle and Distal Dystrophies. A Report of the Guideline Development Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the Practice Issues Review Panel of the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, was published in the October 13, 2014, online issue of Neurology®, AAN’s medical journal and makes recommendations about treating and managing complications, which may include muscle symptoms, hearth problems, and breathing problems.

This podcast, Electrodiagnosis of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (Une): a Bayesian approach, is based on an article in Muscle Nerve. 2014 Mar;49(3):337-44. doi: 10.1002/mus.23913.

This podcast, Electrodiagnosis of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (Une): a Bayesian approach, is based on an article in Muscle Nerve. 2014 Mar;49(3):337-44. doi: 10.1002/mus.23913.

Myotonic Dystrophy Health Index: Initial Evaluation of a Disease-Specific Outcome Measure by Dr. Chad Heatwole and interviewed by Dr. Nicholas Silvestri. From the Muscle and Nerve article: INTRODUCTION: In preparation for clinical trials we examine the validity, reliability, and patient understanding of the Myotonic Dystrophy Health Index (MDHI). METHODS: Initially we partnered with 278 myotonic dystrophy type-1 (DM1) patients and identified the most relevant questions for the MDHI. Next, we used factor analysis, patient interviews, and test-retest reliability assessments to refine and evaluate the instrument. Lastly, we determined the capability of the MDHI to differentiate between known groups of DM1 participants. RESULTS: Questions in the final MDHI represent 17 areas of DM1 health. The internal consistency was acceptable in all subscales. The MDHI had a high test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.95) and differentiated between DM1 patient groups with different disease severities. CONCLUSIONS: Initial evaluation of the MDHI provides evidence that it is valid and reliable as an outcome measure for assessing patient-reported health. These results suggest that important aspects of DM1 health may be measured effectively using the MDHI. Muscle Nerve. 2014 Jun;49(6):906-14. doi: 10.1002/mus.24097.

This podcast discusses information from the article "Vasculitic Neuropathies" in Lancet Neurology. The vasculitic neuropathies are a diverse group of disorders characterized by the acute-to-subacute onset of painful sensory and motor deficits that result from inflammatory destruction of nerve blood vessels and subsequent ischaemic injury. They are common in patients with primary systemic vasculitis and are seen in vasculitis secondary to disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, viral infections, and diabetic inflammatory neuropathies. It is imperative that neurologists recognize these disorders to initiate treatment promptly and thereby prevent morbidity and mortality. Lancet Neurol. 2014 Jan;13(1):67-82. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(13)70236-9.

Electromyographic (EMG) reporting of radiculopathies is not standardized, and the terminology used in reports can be misinterpreted by referring physicians. Physicians who refer patients for EMG studies at the Mayo Clinic were surveyed about their understanding of 6 different EMG interpretations of an S1 radiculopathy. Of 45 responders, the terms “acute, active,” “chronic, inactive,” and “old” were interpreted consistently by 95%, 98%, and 84% of responders, respectively. Physicians had the most difficulty understanding the meaning of “chronic” in isolation, “chronic, active,” or “old with uncompensated denervation.” These findings suggest a need to educate referring physicians on the meaning of the terms used in EMG reports and to develop standard guidelines for qualifying radiculopathies. Based on our observations, guidelines for the reporting of radiculopathies have been adopted in the Mayo Clinic Florida EMG laboratory. Muscle Nerve 49: 129–130, 2014.