Setup – Medial and Lateral Plantar NCS

Electrode placement (use the bar electrode)

14-cm distance (around the medial malleolus)

  • E1 (black):  Posterior and superior to the medial malleolus
  • E2 (red):  Proximal
  • Ground:  Medial ankle (between stimulation and pickup)

Stimulation sites

  • Medial Plantar Nerve
    • (-) Cathode (black):  14-cm distal to E1 on the medial plantar foot (measured line curving behind the medial malleolus)
    • (+) Anode (red):  distal
  • Lateral Plantar Nerve
    • (-) Cathode (black):  14-cm proximal to E1 on the lateral plantar foot (measured line curving behind the medial malleolus)
    • (+) Anode (red):  distal

      14-cm distance (around the medial malleolus)

Additional Information

  • This is a mixed nerve test – though used mostly as a sensory test
  • Especially useful when evaluating for tarsal tunnel syndrome
  • Difficult test to perform, therefore:
    • May need to perform side-to-side comparisons (comparing amplitude and peak latency)
  • CPT codes for nerve conduction studies
    • 95900 Nerve conduction, amplitude and latency/velocity study, each nerve; motor, without F-wave study
    • 95903 Nerve conduction, amplitude and latency/velocity study, each nerve; motor with F-wave study
    • 95904 Nerve conduction, amplitude and latency/velocity study, each nerve; motor with F-wave study, each nerve; sensory
    • 95934 H-reflex, amplitude and latency study; record gastrocnemius/soleus muscle
    • 95936 Record muscle other than gastrocnemius/soleus muscle
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This post was written by:

Christopher Faubel, MD - who has written 183 posts on The Pain Source.

Pain Medicine Fellowship (2011/2012) - Louisiana State University

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Christopher Faubel, MD

Pain Medicine Fellowship (2011/2012) - Louisiana State University

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ThePainSource.com was started to provide pain medicine information on neuromusculoskeletal conditions, interventional pain procedures, journal article reviews, and other clinically-relevant information to physicians and other healthcare providers specializing in the treatment of patients with pain.