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Learn About Conditions and Procedures

What is Trauma?

Trauma is a serious injury or shock to the body. It is caused by a physical force such as violence or an accident. The injury may be complicated by psychiatric, behavioral, and social factors.

It is critical to have an entire team immediately available to provide care to an injured patient 24-hours a day. This teamwork starts at the scene of the injury where a coordinated, statewide pre-hospital medical system rapidly transports the injured patient from the scene to the hospital providing the appropriate level of care according to criteria established in the statewide trauma regulations. Once at the hospital, a complete team of surgeons, emergency physicians and nurses continue the life-saving treatment.

This team approach to care of the injured patient has had a dramatic impact on saving lives.

Minimally Invasive Procedures for Massive Bleeding

Injuries take many forms. The most advanced hospitals can treat injuries with a variety of approaches that involve well-known ones, like surgery, and newer ones where minimally invasive procedures can replace some surgeries.

As a Level 1 Trauma Center, Hartford Hospital has Interventional Radiologists as part of the Trauma Team. They perform procedures such as "embolization" which is a recognized interventional radiology technique that is used to treat trauma patients with massive bleeding.

Click here to see some of the advanced interventional techniques available at Hartford Hospital.

Learn more about trauma, or search below to learn about other health conditions.

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Nerve Conduction Study

by Krisha McCoy, MS

En Español (Spanish Version)

Definition | Reasons for Test | Possible Complications | What to Expect | Call Your Doctor

Definition

A nerve conduction study (NCS) is a test that measures the speed and strength of electrical activity in a nerve. The test can gather information about the structure and function of both muscle and nerve.

Electromyogram of Shoulder—Used in Conjunction with Nerve Conduction Study

Reasons for Test

A NCS is most often done to:

Help diagnose the cause of pain, cramping, numbness, or weakness
Determine if nerves are working properly
Identify the difference between muscle and nerve disorders
Monitor if a nerve is recovering from injury

Possible Complications

There are no major complications associated with this test.

What to Expect

Before your procedure:

Make sure you talk to your doctor about the medicines you are taking.
If you have myasthenia gravis, ask if you should take any medicine before the test.
If directed to, avoid cigarettes, coffee, tea, and soft drinks for 2-3 hours before the test.
Shower the day of your test. Do not use any creams, moisturizers, or powders on your skin.
Wear comfortable clothing, but expect to change into a hospital gown.

Your skin will be cleaned. Electrodes will be taped to the skin along the nerves that are being studied. Your doctor will use a small stimulus to apply an electric current that causes the nerves to activate. The electrodes will measure the current that travels down the nerve pathway. The current will be slower and weaker if your nerve is damaged. Your doctor will use the stimulus at different places to determine the specific site of the damage.

Nerve conduction studies are often done along with electromyography (EMG).

You will be able to resume your daily activities after the test is complete.

About 30-90 minutes

You will feel mild discomfort from the shocks. It should not be very painful.

Your doctor will study the information from the test. A report should be ready within a few days.

Call Your Doctor

Call your doctor if you have any questions or concerns following the test.

In case of an emergency, call for medical help right away.

American Chronic Pain Association

http://www.theacpa.org/

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation

http://www.cnsfederation.org/

Chronic Pain Association of Canada

http://www.chronicpaincanada.com/

Electrodiagnostic testing. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00270. Updated October 2007. Accessed November 27, 2012.

Specialized nerve tests: EMG, NCV, and SSEP. North American Spine Society website. Available at: http://www.knowyourback.org/Pages/Treatments/AssessmentTools/SpecializedNerveTests.aspx. Updated June 16, 2011. Accessed November 26, 2012.

Spinal diagnostics: nerve conduction studies. Cedars-Sinai website. Available at: http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/Patients/Programs-and-Services/Spine-Center/Conditions-and-Treatments/Diagnostic-Studies/Spinal-Diagnostics-Nerve-Conduction-Studies.aspx. Accessed November 26, 2012.

Last reviewed November 2012 by Rimas Lukas, MD

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.