Abstract

Background: Tobacco and its byproducts have hazardous effect on multiple organs of our body including nerves. Longterm exposure to the chemicals found in tobacco smoke results in demyelination of nerve fibers affecting the nerve conduction. F-wave study is a reliable tool to assess the proximal segment of peripheral nerve and has not been studied much. Aim and
Objective: The aim of the study is to measure F-wave latencies in nerve conduction studies in the median nerve in smokers (S) and nonsmokers (NS).
Materials and Methods: The present study recruited normal healthy participants (18–50 years) divided in two groups, namely Group S and Group NS. It was designed to be a cross-sectional case–control study. Median nerve was examined for motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities. The detailed late responses, for example, F-wave latencies including F-minimum latency, F-maximum latency, and F-mean latency were studied, and data are analyzed using descriptive statistics and Mann–Whitney test. Result: A statistically significant increase (P < 0.0001) was found in all F-wave latencies in S as compared to NS. Conclusion: The present study suggested that long-term exposure to tobacco results in compromised nerve conduction velocities and increases latencies in peripheral nerves. The increased latencies could be attributed to peripheral demyelination or radiculopathy.