Journal article
Change in cross-sectional area of the median nerve with age in neonates, infants and children analyzed by high-resolution ultrasound imaging.
- Jenny C Medical Faculty, University of Basel, Switzerland.
- Lütschg J Medical Faculty, University of Basel, Switzerland; Children's Hospital of Eastern Switzerland, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland.
- Broser PJ Medical Faculty, University of Basel, Switzerland; Children's Hospital of Eastern Switzerland, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland. Electronic address: PhilipJulian.Broser@kispisg.ch.
- 2020-08-23
Published in:
- European journal of paediatric neurology : EJPN : official journal of the European Paediatric Neurology Society. - 2020
Children
Cross-sectional area
High-resolution nerve ultrasound imaging
Median nerve
Nerve conduction velocity
Peripheral nerve system development
English
AIM
To analyze age dependencies in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve during early childhood.
METHOD
A total of 43 participants (32 of whom were children younger than 2 years) were included in this cross-sectional study to analyze the age dependency of the CSA of the median nerve at three locations (wrist, forearm and upper arm) using high-resolution ultrasound images.
RESULTS
A strong and highly significant correlation was found between age and CSA (p < 0.001). When plotted, the relationship followed a logarithmic curve (p < 0.001) with a growth rate that decreases with age. Based on the regression analysis, a temporally similar increase in CSA for all three locations was found. The nerve reaches 70% of its final CSA by 2 years of age at all three locations.
INTERPRETATION
Similar to the nerve conduction speed, the increase in CSA is greatest during the first 2 years of life. Then, the rate gradually and synchronously slows at the proximal and distal locations. Measurement of the CSA in the clinical setting might offer a new method to assess the maturation of the nervous system in infants with minimal interference.
To analyze age dependencies in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve during early childhood.
METHOD
A total of 43 participants (32 of whom were children younger than 2 years) were included in this cross-sectional study to analyze the age dependency of the CSA of the median nerve at three locations (wrist, forearm and upper arm) using high-resolution ultrasound images.
RESULTS
A strong and highly significant correlation was found between age and CSA (p < 0.001). When plotted, the relationship followed a logarithmic curve (p < 0.001) with a growth rate that decreases with age. Based on the regression analysis, a temporally similar increase in CSA for all three locations was found. The nerve reaches 70% of its final CSA by 2 years of age at all three locations.
INTERPRETATION
Similar to the nerve conduction speed, the increase in CSA is greatest during the first 2 years of life. Then, the rate gradually and synchronously slows at the proximal and distal locations. Measurement of the CSA in the clinical setting might offer a new method to assess the maturation of the nervous system in infants with minimal interference.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1016/j.ejpn.2020.07.017
- PMID 32826155
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/160372
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