Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36106775›Full record

ArticleMuscle & nerve2022

Ultrasound-guided motor unit scanning electromyography.

Stuart Maitland, Julie Hall, Andrew McNeill, Ben Stenberg, Ian Schofield, Roger Whittaker

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Muscle & nerve, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 34% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Stuart MaitlandTranslational and Clinical Research Institute, Henry Wellcome Building for Neuroecology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-7879-016X
Julie HallNewcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Andrew McNeillNewcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Ben StenbergNewcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Ian SchofieldTranslational and Clinical Research Institute, Henry Wellcome Building for Neuroecology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Roger WhittakerTranslational and Clinical Research Institute, Henry Wellcome Building for Neuroecology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital · GBNewcastle University · GB

Funding

Department of Health BH180986Medical Research Council MR/T005483/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

INTRODUCTION/

aimsMeasuring the spatial dimensions of a single motor unit remains a challenging problem, and current techniques, such as scanning electromyography (EMG), tend to underestimate the true dimensions. In this study we aimed to estimate more accurately the dimensions of a single motor unit by developing a clinically applicable scanning EMG protocol that utilizes ultrasound imaging to visualize and target a transect through the center of a single motor unit.

methodsSingle motor unit twitches in the tibialis anterior muscles of healthy volunteers were elicited via stimulation of the fibular nerve, visualized with ultrasound, and targeted with an intramuscular EMG electrode. The electrode was moved by hand in small steps through the motor unit territory. Ultrasound video output was synchronized to EMG capture, and the needle position was tracked at each step.

resultsEight recordings from six participants were collected. The technique was quick and easy to perform (mean time, 6.1 minutes) with reasonable spatial resolution (mean step size, 1.85 mm), yielding motor unit territory sizes between 1.53 and 14.65 mm (mean, 7.15 mm). DISCUSSION: Ultrasound-guided motor unit scanning EMG is a quick and accurate method for obtaining a targeted motor unit transect. This combination of two readily available clinical tools provides insights into the dimensions and internal structure of the motor unit as a marker for neuromuscular conditions.

Indexed as

Neuromuscular DiseasesElectromyographyHumansMuscle, SkeletalUltrasonographyUltrasonography, Interventionalbiomarkermotor unit territoryscanning EMGultrasound

Identifiers

PMID36106775
PMCPMC9828660
OpenAlexW4295900518

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.