Diagnosis of entrapment neuropathies in diabetic patients

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which the body is unable to produce or to use insulin properly. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is one of the complications of the diabetes mellitus. Diabetic peripheral mononeuropathy is often divided into two types: mononeuritis and entrapment neuropathy.Materials and methods: This study include 46 lower limbs of type 2 diabetic patients. The electrophysiological studies was done including motor nerve conduction study for the posterior tibial nerve, short segment study of the posterior tibial nerve and tinel`s sign.Aim of the study: To evaluate the more sensative technique used in the diagnosis of entrapment neuropathies in the peripheral nerves of lower limbs.Results and discussion: the results show that from the patient who participate in this study there was a prolongation in the distal motor latency of the posterior tibial nerve by about 30% by using traditional nerve conduction study. The results also show that in 12 limbs from the 46 lower limbs examined there was decreased in the amplitude of the compound muscle action potential of the posterior tibial nerve supplying abductor halluxis brevis muscle by about 30-50% when we pass across the tarsal tunnel and this represent about 26% of the samples, by using short segment study. However, by clinical examination, Tinel`s signs was positive in about 23.6% of the samples.These results were compatible with the results of many other studies and we conclude that the three techniques are sensitive in the diagnosis of the entrapment neuropathies.