Browsing by Author "Aparna Debbarma"

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H-reflex conduction velocity in babies from birth to 6 month of age
(Mr Bhawani Singh, 2017) Aparna Debbarma; Priyanka Bhagat; Sarita Chowdhary; A.N. Gangopadhyay; S.P. Sharma; Udai Prakash
Background: The neurological assessment of newborn babies is clinically difficult due to its subjectivity. H-reflex and H-reflex conduction velocity (HRCV) are especially useful in pediatric nerve conduction studies. It evaluates proximal segment of nerve which includes Ia sensory afferent and motor component of the peripheral nerve. Aims and Objectives: To assess the H-reflex latency (HRL) and HRCV in first 6 months of postnatal period and their correlation with other anthropometric variable such as weight, height, and head circumference. Materials and Methods: 26 full-term babies between the age group from birth to 6 months of age were the study participants. HRL and HRCV were recorded in the right lower limbs at posterior tibial nerve-soleus muscle in all the babies. Results: The values of HRCV had significantly increased at 3-6 months of age, and it was strongly correlated with HRL but weakly correlated with age of the babies. Conclusion: The proximal nerve conduction velocity i.e. HRCV was significantly increased from birth time to 3-6 months of age due to rapid myelination and maturation of nerve fibers. This rise in velocity has also maintained the HRL to a comparable level in all the babies even with the increment of height. The HRL and HRCV could be useful as a complementary method along with clinical examination to assess functional integrity of the spinal cord. © 2017 Priyanka Bhagat, et al.
H-reflex studies in lumbosacral meningomyelocele
(Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, 2017) Priyanka Bhagat; Aparna Debbarma; Sarita Chowdhary; A.N. Gangopadhyay; S.P. Sharma; Udai Prakash
Objective of this work was to assess the effects of meningomyelocele (MMC) and its surgical intervention on spinal H-reflex. Twenty nine full term infants with age varying from 1-37 days were the study subject. Out of them 14 were normal infants and the rest were suffering from lumbosacral MMC. MMC babies were further investigated one week after surgical removal of sac. H-reflex latency (HRL) and related parameters (Hmax, Mmax and H/M ratio) were recorded at posterior tibial nerve-soleus muscle of right lower limb. H-reflex was absent in few MMC infants before surgery and their number were increased after surgery. Further, HRL and Mmax values were significantly less in MMC compared to normal infants. These observations suggest that some components of reflex arc were damaged in MMC, but the impulse conduction had increased in the viable neural tissue. Surgical intervention had limited role in restoration of neural function. © 2017, Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India. All rights reserved.