Single-fiber F waves compared with conventional surface F waves, and their utility in detecting early diabetic neuropathy.

INTRODUCTION: The single-fiber F-wave (SFF-wave) technique assesses the entire length of single motor fibers using a concentric needle. Herein we investigated the utility of this approach in the detection of early diabetes-related neuropathy, and compared it with the use of conventional surface F waves (CF waves).

METHODS: Sixteen patients with diabetes and either no neuropathy or mild neuropathy were assessed and compared with 16 age- and height-matched control participants.

RESULTS: Both CF and SFF waves were abnormal in all 5 patients who had mild neuropathy. However, SFF waves demonstrated subclinical abnormalities in 7 of 11 patients (64%) with no neuropathy, whereas only 2 of these patients (18%) had prolonged CF waves. Minimum F-wave latency was comparable between techniques, but maximum SFF-wave latency was more frequently prolonged, as these delayed motor units were better isolated, rather than buried among summated CF-wave responses.

DISCUSSION: SFF waves highlight the segmental involvement in diabetic neuropathy, and use of the SFF-wave technique detects more abnormalities than with CF waves.