Reliability of pudendal nerve terminal motor latency

Aim: To evaluate reliability of Pudendal Nerve Terminal Motor Latency (PNTML). Methods: Forty healthy subjects, 24 women and 16 men, and eight female patients were included. Four patients had idiopathic faecal incontinence and 4 an anal sphincter rupture after childbirth. PNTML measurement was performed by two observers with the patient in left lateral and supine position. Examinations were repeated on another day to evaluate intraindividual reproducibility. Results: Interobserver reproducibility was 92% – 116% for PNTML. Degree of agreement for PNTML between left lateral and supine position was 86% – 111%. Intra-individual reproducibility in the supine and left lateral positions was 89% – 109% and 88% – 113% respectively. Normal values for mean PNTML were higher in women compared with men, 1.91 msec (2 SD, 0.52 msec) and 1.74 msec (2 SD, 0.33 msec) respectively, t = 2.44, 37 DF, P<0.01. Conclusions: Reliability of PNTML in terms of interobserver and intraindividual reproducibility was high. Women had higher normal values for PNTML than men.