Referral diagnosis versus electroneurophysiological finding. Two years electroneuromyographic consultation in a rehabilitation clinic.

This study describes the referral practice to an electrodiagnostic unit in a rehabilitation clinic and compares the provisional diagnoses of different referring sources with the outcome of the neurophysiological tests. The study comprises data of 495 patients which were examined over a two years period. General practitioners, the author, physiatrists and surgeons, followed by occupational health physicians and neurologists used the electrodiagnostic service. Two thirds of the cases were referred to rule out upper limb mononeuropathies or cervical root and plexus neuropathies. Carpal tunnel syndrome (20%), and other upper limb mononeuropathies (10%) were the most common EMG findings. Other frequent neurophysiologic diagnoses were: lumbar root and plexus neuropathy (6%), polyneuropathy (5.5%), lower limb mononeuropathy (3.4%), and cervical root and plexus neuropathy (3.4%). In 49% the electrodiagnostic was normal or inconcensive.