Where should the ground electrode be placed for peroneal nerve SSEP stimulation?

For the peroneal nerve somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) stimulation, placing the ground electrode at the thigh is appropriate for several reasons. The ground electrode serves to establish a reference point for measuring the electrical activity generated by the nerve stimulation and subsequent responses.

Positioning the ground electrode at the thigh helps in reducing electrical noise and provides a stable reference for the signals recorded from the peroneal nerve, which runs along the lateral aspect of the lower leg. This location minimizes the distance between the stimulating and recording electrodes, thus improving the clarity of the recorded potentials. Additionally, placing the ground electrode too close to the stimulation site could introduce artifact or noise into the recordings, making it essential to locate it strategically.

While other placements like at the calf, ankle, or back of the knee may seem reasonable, they are less effective in reducing noise and ensuring quality data for analysis during SSEP testing. The thigh location is established as an optimal choice for accurate and reliable results in this context.