Normal neurophysiologic parameters of the tibial nerve among adult healthy Sudanese population

Background Nerve conductive studies (NCS) are the most informative portion of the electrodiagnostic evaluation for peripheral neuropathy; NCS can be extremely useful both in localizing lesions and determining the pathological processes. Recently, there is increased interest in quality of normative values for each test result and compare should be done between normal and patients regarding specific disease. So, The aim of our study is to help establish NCS normative data of tibial nerve that could be applicable in the Sudanese population and can be used in neurophysiology departments around the country and to compare with those data published in the literature, and to survey the effects of Age, Gender, Height, Weight and Temperature on Nerve Conduction Study Parameters. Methods NCSs were performed in 210 tibial nerves of 105 adult healthy Sudanese subjects using standardized techniques. Results It was found that the tibial nerve component values as follows; the distal latency is 4.063±1.0533 m/sec, Proximal latency 13.238 ±1.7253 m/sec, Conduction velocity 48.58±5.634 m/sec, F wave 51.509±6.1013 m/sec, Duration of CMAP at ankle 6.199± 1.0254 m/sec, Amplitude of CMAP at ankle 8.528±3.6658 μV, Area of CMAP at ankle 17.569±7.7389μV/ms, Duration of CMAP at popliteal 7.075±1.3173 m/sec, Amplitude of CMAP at popliteal 6.343±3.2871μV and Area at popliteal 14.914±7.8684 μV/ms. Conclusion The tibial motor nerve conduction parameters for the tested nerve compared favorably with the existing literature with some discrepancies that were justified Significance This is the first study to establish reference values for tibial NCS carried out Sudanese population.