Zakir Jan, Muhammad Hassan Hassan, Farzana Salman, Waleed Shahzad, Ramal Zarminahil, Mazhar Badshah.
An analysis of pattern and burden of patients Referred for nerve conduction study in a Tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.
Pak J Neurological Sci Jan ;14(3):31-6.

Background: To analyze the trend and load of neurological diseases in a university medical center for reffered electrophysiology. Methodology: From January 2016 to December 2018, this retrospective study was carried out in department of Neurology, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad. A total of 4527 patients were evaluated during this time period in neurophysiology lab through computerized data. Result: A total of 4527 patients were evaluated. There were 2243(49.5%) male and 2284(50.45%) female patients. Carpel tunnel syndrome was the most prevalent disease (31.72%) trailed by Guillain Barre Syndrome with 6.88% (among 6.88%, 40.28% was diagnosed AMAN). Among chronic polyneuropathies, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and sensory motor polyneuropathy were 1.15% and 5.30% respectively. Injection/ traumatic polyneuropathies were found in high percentage (3.80%). The most prevalent identified condition among anterior horn cell disorders were motor neuron disease (1.46%) and poliomyelitis (0.95%) in this study. 4.28% and 1.28% patients were under the umbrella of diseases of muscles and neuromuscular junction disease respectively. Plexopathy and radiculopathy accounted for 2.91% and 5.57%, respectively. NCS was done as part of workup in several diseases (e.g. stroke, cerebral palsy, myelopathy) observed in 1.86%. In 829 patients (18.31%) NCS and EMG were found to be normal. Conclusion: Electrophysiological studies help in the diagnosis of many neurological and medical disorders. They also help to exclude many disorders. Clinical assessment before NCS and EMG will help to reduce the burden on electrophysiology laboratory as well as the discomfort of procedure to the patient. Wherever faculties and experts have the opportunity to diagnose and classify these cases, NCS/EMG may assist.

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