Comprehensive Electromyography

Mark A. Ferrante is a Professor of Neurology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where he serves as the Neurophysiology Fellowship Co-Director and the Assistant Director of the Residency Training Program. He is also the Section Chief of Neurophysiology, the EMG Laboratory Director, and the ALS Clinic Director at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Memphis. He has extensively published on EMG and various neuromuscular topics; his current research interests include brachial plexopathies, neuralgic amyotrophy, and thoracic outlet syndrome, as well as the relationship between sustained gripping and carpal tunnel syndrome and the role of surgical treatment for advanced carpal tunnel syndrome. He has received numerous teaching awards for his ability to simplify complex material, including the Annual AAET Physician Recognition Award.

Part I. Introductory Chapters: 1. Basic electricity and electrical concepts pertinent to EDX medicine; 2. Instrumentation; 3. Anatomy and physiology of neurons; 4. Anatomy and physiology of the neuromuscular junction; 5. Anatomy and physiology of muscle; Part II. Nerve Conduction Studies: 6. Electrodes and nerve conduction study basics; 7. Motor nerve conduction studies; 8. Sensory nerve conduction studies; 9. The NCS manifestations of various pathophysiologies; 10. The utility of NCS for lesion localization and characterization; 11. Late responses and blink reflexes; 12. Repetitive nerve stimulation studies and their manifestations; Part III. Needle EMG: 13. The needle electrode examination (Needle EMG); 14. The Needle EMG manifestations of pathology; 15. Single fiber EMG and macro EMG; Part IV. Other Pertinent Information: 16. Assessment, prognosis, and initial management of peripheral nerve injuries; 17. The EDX Manifestations of Disorders at Various Levels of the Neuraxis; 18. Common pitfalls and their resolution; 19. Safety issues; 20. Nontechnical issues, the patient encounter, and the EDX report; Part V. Case Studies in Electrodiagnostic Medicine: Case 1 through Case X; Part VI. Appendices: Appendix 1. Anatomy of the brachial and lumbosacral plexuses; Appendix 2. Anatomy of the major upper and lower extremity nerves; Appendix 3. The myotomes of the upper and lower extremities; Appendix 4. The SNAP, CMAP, and needle EMG domains of the brachial plexus; Appendix 5. The sensory and motor NCS techniques used in our EMG laboratories; Appendix 6. The age-related, normal control values for the sensory and motor NCS; Appendix 7. Our screening sensory NCS, motor NCS, and needle EMG studies; Appendix 8. The advantages and disadvantages of the EDX test components; Appendix 9. Needle EMG findings with lesions at various levels of the neuraxis.