Neuromuscular Studies

EMG

Electromyogrpahy (EMG) is used to demonstrate changes in the electrical activity of a muscle in its resting state, Following electrical stimulation or voluntary reflex activation.

What Happen in an EMG?

Patients undergoing EMG's are frequently anesthetizes to eliminate discomfort when electrodes are placed into the various muscles.  This procedure also relaxes the muscles allowing a more accurate interpretation of the findings.  the needles are connected to an amplifier and monitor, following abnormal signals from diseased muscles or nerves to be seen and heard.

How Can an EMG Help My Pet?

EMG helps gain insight about the presence of peripheral nerve and muscle conditions.  The distribution of the abnormal finding leads to an understanding of the possible cause for the loss of muscle strength, lost stamina, muscle atrophy or soreness.

Nerve Conduction Studies

nerve Conduction studies help to delineate the extent, distribution and type of disease.

What Happens in Nerve Conduction Studies?

In a nerve conduction study stimulating electrodes are used to electrically activate a specific nerve and site while recording electrodes capture the electrical signal from the responding muscle.  The conduction rate, size and shape of the recording help determine the location of a pet's problem.  Common indicators of problems are poor muscle strength, atrophy weakness and toe dragging.

How Can Nerve Conduction Studies Help?

A nerve conduction study can provide information about conditions such as weakness, thinning of muscles or feet dragging.  Peripheral nerve disease may result of demyelination, or axonal degeneration.  Repetitive stimulation can be used in diagnosis of a muscle receptor disorder called Myasthenia gravis.

Nerve / Muscle Biopsy

Peripheral nerve and muscle biopsy may follow EMG studies to histologically define the disease process that was recognized electrically as abnormal.

What Happens in a Biopsy?

A biopsy is the excision and analysis of a small piece of tissue from a nerve or muscle.  Under anesthetic conditions a small sample of muscle, nerve is surgically removed through an incision in the skin, by a needle inserted into the muscle, or during a surgical / exploratory procedure.  The sample is placed in solution filled container and sent pathology specialists for histologic and histochemical evaluation.  Impression smears are often made for microscopic cell evaluations.

How Can a Biopsy Help My Pet?

Muscle and nerve biopsies are used to diagnosis neuromuscular disorders,
provide information about the underlying pathologic
process and evaluate tissue
for benign, malignant and abnormal cells.  All this infor-
mation will aid in determining a treatment plan and
formulation a prognosis.

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