Abstract

Background: The normal ability to distinguish the two points from one is the two-point discriminative sense. This forms an extremely important assessment in patient with injuries to nerves distributed to upper extremity and in parietal lobe disorders. But till date there is no normal value for the discrimination of two-point sense for the upper extremity in Indian adults.

Objective: To estimate the reference value of two-point discrimination in both men and women among 18 to 28 years Indian adults.

Materials and Methods: 50 apparently normal subjects comprising of 25 men and 25 women were recruited randomly for the study. 15 sensory areas in upper extremity was selected which covers all major dermatomes. The ability to distinguish the two-point was estimated in millimeters by using aesthesiometer. The results were tabulated and statistically analysed.

Results: The two-point discrimination varies from 41.3±1.1mm in the upper lateral arm to 2.4±0.1 mm in the palmar surface of distal phalanx of little finger. There exist no significant (P>0.05) difference in the reference values between men and women among Indian adults.

Conclusion: The normal value of two-point discrimination among Indian adults was established. The men and women discriminate the two-point sensation in similar way and there exist no gender differences.

Key words: Normal value, Combined cortical sensations, Neurological assessments, Aesthesiometer, Dominant side.