Electromyography (EMG) is a procedure that is used to assess the health of the muscles and motor neurons. Motor neurons transmit electrical signals that cause muscles to contract.
An EMG uses tiny devices called electrodes to transmit or detect electrical signals. There are a couple of ways EMGs can be performed. Some are done with needles – a needle electrode is inserted directly into a muscle and records the electrical activity in that muscle. Another type of EMG called a nerve conduction study uses electrodes taped to the skin to measure the speed and strength of signals traveling between two points.
EMGs are used to diagnose a number of conditions. EMGs can diagnose disorders that affect the nerve root, muscle disorders, disorders that affect motor neurons in the brain or spinal cord, and disorders of nerves outside the spinal cord.
The good news is that EMG is very low risk. It’s rare for patients undergoing an EMG to have complications. Most complications, when they occur, are nerve injury, bleeding, and infection. If the muscles along the chest was are examined with a needle, there is a chance that the needle could cause air to leak into the area between the lungs and chest wall, which can cause a lung to collapse.
If you have been harmed by an EMG, call me, Conal Doyle. I have experience in handling cases involving types of medical monitoring, such as EMG. Call my office today at 310-385-0567. My team can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.