Article

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability of the electrical perception threshold (EPT)
in healthy participants and its responsiveness in patients for 6 months after
traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: The reliability of EPT measures was
assessed in 15 healthy volunteers (from C3 to S2). EPT measures were assessed in
37 patients at 1, 3, and 6 months after SCI. EPT was determined in dermatomes at,
above, and below the neurological level of lesion. Reliability was quantified
with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and responsiveness with the
standardized response mean (SRM). Dermatomes were classified as having normal or
pathological sensory perception, based on both light touch (LT) and EPT testing.
The percentage of agreement between LT and EPT classifications was determined.
RESULTS: The ICCs varied considerably between dermatomes (0.00 </= ICC </= 0.86).
Overall, EPTs changed little within the first 6 months after SCI, resulting in
small SRM values. Agreement between classifications according to EPT or LT
testing varied from 30% to 100%. The least agreement was observed in the first
segment below the lesion. CONCLUSION: Future studies must note that the
reliability of EPT differs between dermatomes in healthy participants.
Furthermore, at and below the level of the lesion, spontaneous recovery of
sensory perception is poor within the first 6 months after SCI. Based on subgroup
analyses, if a translational trial aims to improve sensory perception around the
level of the lesion, sensory-incomplete tetraplegic patients could be included.
These patients show poor spontaneous recovery, and the EPT may detect subtle
changes in perception.

Langue : ANGLAIS