United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

is EMG goog enough to diagnose an avulsion?

The only reliable method of ascertaining exact damage is to explore surgically. That's what my doctor told me anyway.

My daughter had/has an avulsion to C7 and we didn't know until she went into surgery; she had an EMG done several months before the surgery and it showed some conductivity with all nerves.

My son had an avulsion of C6. The emg showed that it was in bad shape but couldn't confirm an avulsion.

Cindy

At an international sympsosium I attended last year, most of the bpi specialists were commenting that other than surgery, the only other tool for diagnosing an avulsion was an MRI scan - that too was felt to only give a better indicator of an avulsion, but by no means an exact diagnosis.

To my knowledge and experiance, all the doctors said that nothing is better than going in and checking it out, but I would highly recomend demanding a Mylogram with a PET scan, That is when a dye is injected into the base of the spinal canal, and then your body is tilted, while lying on a platform, to see where the dye leaks out. You are x-rayed and then scanned to determine exactly which roots are avulsed. My Mylogram proved pretty much perfectly which nerves where avulsed. Good luck, it was pretty painless and FINALLY gave a clearer picture of what my future surgeries and options where.

PS EMGs are good,but not clear enough, but can determine actual new nerve growth.

Dr. Sumner at LSU in New Orleans (who works with Dr. Kline) is regarded as one of the countries best at administering and reading EMGs, also a complete gentleman.

feel free to email me with any questions
Chris - cljanney@pacbell.net