Clinical Usefulness of the Two-site Semmes-Weinstein Monofilament Test for Detecting Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

• DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2003.18.1.103
• Publication Date: 2014-09-19T06:36:10Z
• Authors: YunJin Kim; HyeunHo Kim; SangHan Choi; YongSoon Park; SangYeoup Lee; ByeungMan Cho
• Keywords: Male; Neurologic Examination; Neural Conduction; Middle Aged; Sensitivity and Specificity; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diabetic Neuropathies; Touch; Sensation Disorders; Pressure; Humans; Female; Aged

The present study was done to validate the two-site Semmes-Weinstein (SW) monofilament test in identifying patients at risk of lower-extremity complications in clinical setting. The SW monofilament test and nerve conduction study were conducted on type 2 diabetic patients (n=37) at Pusan National University Hospital in Korea. As the duration of diabetes mellitus was longer, neuropathy identified by nerve conduction study and complications of diabetes were more severe (p<0.01). The number of sites unable to perceive SW monofilament (p<0.001) was larger in patients with lower-extremity neuropathy symptoms than those without symptoms. Sensitivity and specificity at two sites (the third and fifth metatarsal head sites) were 93% and 100%, respectively. In conclusion, the two-site SW monofilament test was a sensitive, specific, simple, and inexpensive screening tool for identifying diabetic peripheral neuropathy in clinical setting.