Peroneal nerve F-wave latencies recorded from the extensor digitorum brevis

This study was performed to create a large database of normal peroneal F-wave latencies. A total of 180 subjects were tested bilaterally and had their shortest (F-min), mean (F-mean), and latency range (F-range) of F-waves recorded. The number of F-waves present out of ten stimuli (F-persist) was also recorded. Demographic characteristics were noted and an analysis or variance was performed to determine whether any of these characteristics were associated with different results for the F-wave measures. Age and height and, to a lesser extent gender correlated with differences in F-min, and (F-mean), but not Frange (F-range) and body mass index (weight divided by height squared) were not associated with any differences in results, The mean F-min was 50.2 +/- 5.5 ms, Mean F-mean was 52.0 +/- 5.6 ms and mean F-range was 4.9 +/- 2.3 ms. Median F-persist was between 5 and 6. Mean side-to-side difference for F-min was 0.7 +/- 2.4 ms. All other results are provided in the article. This article presents a database for normal values and the upper limits of normal for F-min, F-mean, F-range, and side-to-side differences. A low F-persist does not seem particularly clinically useful for the peroneal nerve, although a high F-persist seems to be a sign of normality.