Abstract
Summated responses to peroneal nerve stimulation were recorded from surface electrodes placed over the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine of 50 normal infants and children. These potentials progressively increased in latency rostrally. In bipolar leads over the cauda equina and rostral spinal cord initially positive triphasic potentials were recorded. Leads over the caudal spinal cord yielded larger, more complex potentials. The conduction velocity of the response from lumbar to cervical recording sites was about 25 meters/sec, in the newborn; it progressively increased with age reaching adult values (65M./sec.) after 3 years.
In 2 children with spinal cord lesions clinically judged to be complete, responses caudal to the lesion were normal; leads rostral to the lesion yielded no response. In 1 child with a clinically asymmetrical cord lesion responses were normal with stimulation of the unaffected leg; stimulation of the affected leg yielded responses only caudal to the lesion. In 2 children with diabetes mellitus conduction velocities from lumbar to cervical recording locations were slow.
Although preliminary, these results suggest that this method may be of value in the neurological assessment of infants and children.
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Cracco, J., Graziani, L., Carpenter, G. et al. SPINAL EVOKED RESPONSE IN THE PEDIATRIC AGE GROUP. Pediatr Res 8, 462 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00735
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00735
