Journal
MUSCLE & NERVE
Volume 24, Issue 10, Pages 1339-1345Publisher
JOHN WILEY & SONS INC
DOI: 10.1002/mus.1153
Keywords
children; method of levels; method of limits; quantitative sensory testing; reference intervals
Categories
Funding
- NICHD NIH HHS [1RO1HD35737] Funding Source: Medline
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is a noninvasive, computer-assisted method for assessing function in peripheral small and large sensory fibers. In order to use QST for clinical neurological assessment in children, it is necessary: (1) to determine whether children can reliably perform these tests and (2) to characterize normal ranges in healthy children. Values of cold sensation, warm sensation, cold pain, heat pain, and vibration sensation detection thresholds were determined in the hand and foot with the method of limits (MLI) and method of levels (MLE) in 101 healthy children aged 6-17 years using a commercially available device. Both MLI and MLE were well-accepted by children, and there was good reproducibility between two sessions. The MLE takes longer to perform but produces lower thermal detection thresholds than the MLI In the MLI, vibration and warm sensation showed higher thresholds in the foot than hand, whereas cold pain showed lower thresholds in the foot than hand. Based on these results, QST may be used to document and monitor the clinical course of sensory abnormalities in children with neurological disorders or neuropathic pain. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available