Nowadays, if we ask what this specialty consists of, for many it is totally unknown.
Clinical neurophysiology is a medical specialty that deals with the exploration of the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord) and peripheral nervous system (muscles, nerves, sense organs) through different techniques and cutting-edge technology with highly qualified equipment. Many specialties are demanding neurophysiological explorations, which gives this specialty the character of being a central service. To become a specialist in clinical neurophysiology, it is required to have a degree in medicine and 4 years of specialty via MIR.
The different diseases and/or disorders that can be studied through clinical neurophysiology include:
- Epilepsies through electroencephalography (E.E.G, video-EEG).
- Muscle and peripheral nerve diseases: nerve entrapment (carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.). Myasthenia gravis, motor neuron diseases (ALS), cervical and lumbo-sacral root involvement, involvement of various nerves in the extremities (polyneuropathies), tremors (Parkinson’s disease, etc.), and other diseases, through electromyography and electroneurography (E.M.G-E.N.G, repetitive stimulation, jitter).
- Auditory nerve involvement and lesions in the central nervous system through auditory brainstem potentials (A.E.A.T.P.).
- Multiple sclerosis (somatosensory evoked potentials, VEP and CTAEP).
- Optic nerve involvement through visual evoked potentials (V.E.P./electroretinogram).
- Support in the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, etc., through event-related potentials (P-300).
- Sleep medicine: Sleep disorders (sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, parasomnias, etc.) through nocturnal polysomnography (PSG).
- Intraoperative monitoring: in the operating room we monitor important structures so that as far as possible they are not injured during the surgical act and avoid later sequelae.
Clinical neurophysiology has been growing and thus the diagnosis of diseases or disorders is made with greater certainty and precision. Its purposes are diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic orientation to achieve a better management of the patient.