COMPARISON OF A NEUROTHESIOMETER AND VIBRATRON IN MEASURING VIBRATIONPERCEPTION THRESHOLDS AND RELATIONSHIP TO NERVE-CONDUCTION STUDIES

OBJECTIVE - To compare vibration perception thresholds (VPTs) obtained with two different instruments, a neurothesiometer and a vibratron, a nd to characterize variability of repeat measures and correlation with sural nerve conduction parameters. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - A to tal of 152 patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy received elect rodiagnostic evaluation and quantitative VPT testing with the Vibratro n II and the Horwell Neurothesiometer. Of the patients, 42 returned fo r repeat nerve conduction studies and VPT testing with both types of e quipment on three separate occasions. RESULTS - The variability of rep eat testing for the vibratron was 34 and 31% in the right and left fir st toes, respectively. Variability for the neurothesiometer was 8 and 6% for the right and left toes. This variability compares with that of sural nerve conduction velocity of 2% and that of sural nerve amplitu de of 8% in this series of patients. CONCLUSIONS - We conclude that WT determined with the neurothesiometer is less variable than with the v ibratron and more reflective of peripheral nerve function. Our results indicate that the neurothesiometer can be used reliably in clinical r esearch trials.