Monofilaments and sensory perception in fingers
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Monofilaments and sensory perception in fingers
IRAS ID
211582
Contact name
Jon Poole
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Health & Safety Laboratory
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 1 days
Research summary
Doctors have for many years tested the sensory perception of their patients using a range of bedside methods. Such testing is used for the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy from diabetes, alcohol misuse, peripheral nerve damage, or in specialised occupational medicine practice for the diagnosis of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Sensory perception using nylon filaments which buckle at pre-determined forces when applied to the skin was first described in 1960. Commercial sets of nylon monofilaments are used in hospital practice by diabetologists.
There are limited data on the normal threshold values and reliability of nylon filaments for sensory testing. Sensitivity has been shown to vary by age, sex, job and anatomical site. There is some evidence that thresholds are higher in older men. Inter and intra-observer reliability has been found to be good in normal subjects but there are no data on how sensory perception varies by finger, heavy manual work or disease. Previous work done at HSL has recommended work be undertaken with filaments between the 0.2 and 2.0 g-f which are not currently available on the Weinstein Enhanced Sensory Test (WEST) set, used in this laboratory since 2006.
This study proposes to address these knowledge and practice gaps with a view to helping clinicians determine when sensory perception has been lost in the fingers in adults of varying age and occupation by the use of monofilaments.In particular we should like to test sensory perception using monofilaments in the fingers of patients attending neurology clinics with idiopathic axonal neuropathy.This would be in addition to routine bedside clinical testing with neurotips and vibrating tuning forks.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
17/WS/0051
Date of REC Opinion
9 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion