Quantitative electromyography in babies and young children with primary muscle disease and neurogenic lesions

The technique of quantitative electromyography suitable for babies and young children is reviewed. The findings in 22 children with myopathic disease and 21 with neurogenic disease have been compared with the results from 25 children with no evidence of neuromuscular disease (the Apparent control group). Children with primary muscle disease had low Mean Ratios of mean amplitude/turns per second whereas those with neurogenic lesions had high Mean Ratios. The most abnormal results were found in children with muscular dystrophies and anterior horn cell disease.