Children's motor nerve conduction: the normal value and developmental regular rule

Objective To search for the normal value and developmental regular rule of motor norve conduction in children.Methods One hundred and fourty-nine children aged from 0 to 14 years old were divided into 7 groups in accordance with age. There were 19 pecrsons aged from 20 to 35 years old in adult group. The motor nerve conduction function of median nerve, ulnar perve, tibial nerve and peroneal nerve of every suhject was determined by nerve evoked potential meter.Results The terminal latency of action potential of every nerve is decreased along with growing up of age before 6 years old and increased after 6 years old. The conduction velocity of ulnar nerve is the fastest,then the peroneal nerve and median nerve, that of tibial nerve is the slowest. Median nerve development quicken after 3 months of birth and approch ulnar nerve at the time of 3 years old. Tibial nerye get into fast development period from 3 months to 1 years old and catch up peroneal nerve. The conduction velocity of every nerve extend to adult level in th period of 3~6 years old.Conclusion The every parameler of nervous conduction has a great difference of age in the period of child,particularly in that of infancy. therefore, the normal values should be set up in accordance with proper age groups. This study shows that it's suitable to divide groups in accordance with new-born, 3 and 6 months, 1, 3 and 6 years old. Adult criterion should be used in the children dbove 6 years old.