The Electromyographer's Handbook, 2nd ed.

The Electromyographer's Handbook, 2nd ed By Sethi RK, Thompson LL. Boston, MA 02108, Little, Brown and Company Inc, 1989, paperback, 200 pp, illus, $19.50 This handbook was developed as a practical guide for use in clinical electromyography. It provides information on standard procedures of motor and sensory nerve conduction studies for several peripheral nerves of the upper and lower extremities. The handbook also includes procedures for performing studies on the facial nerve and blink reflex, the F-wave, the H-reflex, repetitive stimulation for assessment of neuromuscular transmission, single muscle fiber examinations, and the needle examination. The authors devote an entire chapter to a discussion of the interpretation of specific clinical disorders of the peripheral nervous system. Absent is information about somatosensory evoked potentials. Each chapter covers a specific nerve or topic, providing an adequate description of the anatomy, applications of the procedure, and an outline or description of the procedure. Illustrations of the anatomy, electrode placements, and expected responses to each procedure complement the text. The authors also provide normal values and pertinent references in each chapter. This handbook would serve as a convenient resource for the beginning electromyographer. It would also serve as an excellent resource for instructors and students. The illustrations are particularly clear and helpful. The appendix includes suggested machine settings for procedures presented, comprehensive and inclusive normal values both for adults and for children, innervation and myotome tables, and illustrations showing locations of motor points. The handbook is indexed. Dean P Currier, PhD