OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of the EDX consultation in terms of the patient’s diagnosis and subsequent evaluation and management.

METHODS: The records of 1414 consecutive new patients referred to a single tertiary hospital EMG laboratory during 1 calendar year were reviewed to determine if EDX consultation changed the diagnosis and/or management plan. The data was analyzed using SPSS statistics software version 20.

RESULTS: EDX consultation changed and confirmed the diagnosis in 51.5% and 46.5% of the cases, respectively. There was no significant difference (p=0.539) in the accuracy of diagnosis between the general practitioners and the specialists. The EDX consultation changed the management plan in 63.4% of all cases, 73.9% of cases referred by a general practitioner, and 51.2% of cases referred by a specialist, which was statistically significant (p<0.001). Logistic regression demonstrated that the diagnosis and management plan were more likely to change following EDX consultation in older patients and patients referred from in-hospital. Patients referred by general practitioners were twice as likely to have a change in management following EDX consultation than those referred by specialists.

SUMMARY/CONCLUSION: EDX consultation has a high utility in confirming or changing the diagnosis and guiding management in patients with suspected neuromuscular disorders.