Kugelberg lecture: principles and pitfalls of nerve conduction studies

Optimal application of the nerve conduction study depends on an understanding of the principles and a recognition of the pitfalls of the technique. The conventional methods deal primarily with distal nerve segments in an extremity. Other techniques allow one to assess nerve segments in less accessible anatomical regions, to improve the accuracy in precisely localizing a focal lesion, and to increase the sensitivity in detecting subclinical abnormalities. Despite certain limitations, nerve conduction studies can provide diagnostically pertinent information if they are used judiciously in the appropriate clinical contexts.