Electromyography in Pediatric Population, A Single Center Experience

Objective: Electromyography (EMG) is an electrophysiological diagnostic tool which sometimes is a challenge to perform evaluate in children. It plays an important role in the diagnosis of neuromuscular diseases together with neurological examination. We aimed to retrospectively evaluate the data of pediatric patients who applied to the EMG laboratory(for electrophysiological evaluation. Methods:Electrodiagnostic records of children aged 0-18 years, who were examined Dokuz Eylul University of Medicine Pediatric Neurology EMG laboratory between 2010-2021, were analyzed retrospectively. Abnormal results were subdivided according to localization in the lower motor unit pathway (anterior motor horn, root, plexus, peripheral nerve, neuromuscular junction, and muscle). The final diagnoses during the follow-up period and the laboratory and imaging findings were obtained from the electronical archive records. Results:Of the 995 patients enrolled, 48,4% (n=482) female, 51,5% (n: 512) were male. The most common presenting symptom was motor symptoms. Other reasons for application are shown in Chart-1. Patients who underwent EMG were most frequently referred from the Pediatric Neurology outpatient clinic followed by Pediatric Endocrine, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, emergency service, and Pediatric Metabolism departments. 67.7% (n: 674) of the EMG recordings were normal. While the number of results consistent with neuropathy was 222 (22%), muscular, neuromuscular junction and plexopathy were observed in 4.9% (n: 49), 1.4% (n=14), and 3.2% (n: 32), respectively. Conclusion: Since electromyography is an important diagnostic tool in the evaluation of lower motor unit diseases, education for this particular technique in pediatric neurology clinics should be expanded.