Visualization of the electrical activity of the cauda equina using a magnetospinography system in healthy subjects

Publication date: Available online 12 November 2018

Source: Clinical Neurophysiology

Author(s): Shuta Ushio, Yuko Hoshino, Shigenori Kawabata, Yoshiaki Adachi, Kensuke Sekihara, Satoshi Sumiya, Dai Ukegawa, Kyohei Sakaki, Taishi Watanabe, Yuki Hasegawa, Atsushi Okawa

Abstract

Objective

To establish a method to measure cauda equina action fields (CEAFs) and visualize the electrical activities of the cauda equina in a broadly aged group of healthy adults.

Methods

Using a 124-channel magnetospinography (MSG) system with superconducting interference devices, the CEAFs of 43 healthy volunteers (22–64 years of age) were measured after stimulation of the peroneal nerve at the knee. Reconstructed currents were obtained from the CEAFs and superimposed on the X-ray image. Conduction velocities were also calculated from the waveform of the reconstructed currents.

Results

The reconstructed currents were successfully visualized. They flowed into the L5/S1 foramen about 8.25–8.95 ms after the stimulation and propagated cranially along the spinal canal. In 32 subjects (74%), the conduction velocities of the reconstructed currents in the cauda equina could be calculated from the peak latency at the L2–L5 level.

Conclusions

MSG visualized the electrical activity of the cauda equina after peroneal nerve stimulation in healthy adults. In addition, the conduction velocities of the reconstructed currents in the cauda equina could be calculated, despite previously being difficult to measure.

Significance

MSG has the potential to be a novel and noninvasive functional examination for lumbar spinal disease.

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