Web Extra
by Marcia Hill Gossard ’99, ’04 Ph.D. | Photo by Henry Moore Jr.
The WSU neurology service‘s new electrodiagnostics machine will help make advanced muscle and nerve disorder diagnoses thanks to a generous friend of the college. Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) are two of the medical tests veterinarians will be able to perform with the new equipment.
“It is a valuable tool for diagnosing muscle and nerve disorders in our patients,” said Dr. Annie Chen-Allen, a WSU veterinary neurologist. “We can also use this machine to diagnose deafness, which, as a hereditary disorder, is especially important for breeders.”
An EMG diagnostic test is often used when patients show signs of muscle weakness or atrophy, while a NCV is used when symptoms include pain or numbness.
“It is a very important tool for patient diagnostics,” said Dr. Chen-Allen. “With it we can more easily identify diseases that involve the muscles, nerves, and the hearing centers.”
The new machine will also be a valuable learning tool for veterinary students, interns, and residents. They will learn firsthand how to perform these diagnostic tests and interpret the recorded information.
“This machine has the ability to make recordings so that we can play back the abnormalities for teaching purposes,” said Dr. Chen-Allen. “We are very grateful to have this new device to train future veterinarians and to better care for our patients.”