Single Fiber EMG

PREFACE to the Third Edition

The second edition of this book appeared in 1994, and has been long out of print. SFEMG has become an important addition to other EMG techniques, not only in myasthenic conditions, but also for other applications. New information has been gathered over the years from others and from us, and it seems pertinent to summarize the present status of SFEMG knowledge in a third edition. In this Edition, Prof. Donald Sanders has joined and contributed with his vast experience in EMG and neurology, not least in the field of myasthenia gravis.

Like an old Oriental carpet, this book contains some errors – nothing is perfect. Feel free to let us know of any that you discover. After an initial explanation, we have not repeated the full wording of abbreviations in each Chapter, but refer to the list of Abbreviations at the beginning of the book. We hope that this book is informative, both for the beginners who will get basic information about techniques, indications and pitfalls, but also to the experienced electromyographer. Many of the phenomena clearly seen in SFEMG have their counterparts in conventional EMG. Therefore, knowledge about SFEMG may provide a better understanding of routine EMG, even for those not performing SFEMG.

Uppsala, Ljubljana, Durham

March 2010

Erik V. Stålberg / Jože V. Trontelj / Donald B. Sanders