Setup – Median Motor NCS

Electrode placement (use the bar electrode)

8-cm distance (black to black)

  • E1 (black):  Abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle (laterally on the thenar eminence)
  • E2 (red):  Distally along the thumb
  • Ground:  Dorsum of hand

Stimulation site

  • Two sites
    • Distal
      • (-) Cathode (black):  8-cm proximal to E1.  Note: Make the 8-cm line go to the middle of the wrist crease, then proximal along the median nerve.
      • (+) Anode (red):  proximal (in line with the median nerve)
    • Proximal
      • (-) Cathode (black):  Antecubital crease, medial to the biceps tendon.
      • (+) Anode (red):  proximal (in line with the median nerve)

        Antecubital crease, medial to the biceps tendon

Additional Information

  • Type of stimulation = Orthodromic
  • If the amplitude is low, move E1 around until you get it over the motor point before calling it truly low.
  • 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.