Vol. 4, Issue 6, Part A (2018)

Abstract
Background: Sural nerve is the sensory nerve most superficially present in the lower limb reflects the peripheral nerve status in length dependant peripheral neuropathy. Most nerve dysfunctions starts from the sensory nerves of lower limb. Hence sural nerve sensory parameters provide highest degree of sensitivity to diagnose peripheral nerve disease. Therefore this study was proposed to provide healthy reference values of sural sensory parameters. Material and method: The study was conducted in 68 healthy young adults including both male and female, with proper ethical approval. After taking consent from each subject, nerve conduction study (NCS) was carried out in both lower limbs. Supra maximal stimulus was applied to obtain sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) with least artifact. Onset latency, amplitude and conduction velocity was analyzed for data analysis. Statistical software SPSS 16 version was used to analyze the data. Result: This study suggested that the latency was increased in older age group while conduction velocity was decreased in comparison to younger age group. There was negative correlation between age and conduction velocity. There was no significant variation of amplitude in different age groups. Female subjects onset latency was prolonged and conduction velocity was low than male. There was no sex variation of amplitude. Conclusion: This study suggested that there age and sex has significant impact on sural nerve conduction. Therefore the reference data suggested in this study may be helpful for clinicians to assess the status of peripheral nerves.