EFFECT OF STIMULATOR ORIENTATION ON F-WAVE PERSISTENCE

Most electrodiagnosis texts advocate cathode distal stimulation (CDS) for nerve conduction, but suggest cathode proximal stimulation (CPS) f or F waves, because of anodal block. We postulated that CDS and CPS el icit F waves of similar persistence. We studied 657 (207 median, 204 u lnar, 136 tibial, and 110 peroneal) nerves in 225 consecutive subjects . In the median nerve, CDS elicited F waves of slightly greater persis tence than CPS. Stimulator orientation did not affect F-wave persisten ce in the remaining nerves. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.