Hand and Wrist

Nerve Conduction Testing

NorthStar have recently signed a distribution agreement with a Boston based company called NEUROMetrix. NEUROMetrix have developed a system called Advance that allows nerve conduction tests to be carried out by the clinician or a trained member of staff, with a comprehensive report being sent back via e-mail, fax or both within five minutes.

Nerve conduction tests are used to detect and diagnose peripheral nerve injury, of the kind typically associated with carpal or cubital tunnel syndrome. The NHS target time for the treatment of these conditions is 18 weeks from GP appointment to surgery. This is often difficult to achieve if the patient requires referral to a neurophysiologist department, so the possibility to receive the information required to make a diagnosis during the first clinic appointment is of great benefit to NHS Trusts, surgeons and patients.

The system works using a variety of sensors that are connected to a hand held unit. After the tests have been carried out, the hand held unit is placed in the docking station and the results are faxed to a central mainframe computer. The results are then compared to those of healthy patients of the same age, height, sex and weight, and a report is generated and returned. The Advance system can also be used for the detection of neuropathy, spinal disorders and peripheral nerve disorders in the foot.

For more information on the Advance system, please follow the NEUROMetrix link to the right of this page, or if you are a clinician contact your local NorthStar Area Manager.