At The Department of Clinical Neurophysiology we examine patients with disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and muscles such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, polyneuropathy, local nerve damage and muscular dystrophy.
These studies are carried out by analysis of bioelectrical signals generated by the nervous system and muscles and contribute to the diagnosis of disorders localised to these systems. Furthermore the cause of diseases and the effect of treatment can be monitored and documented.
The Department of Clinical Neurophysiology is part of the Neuroscience Center of Rigshospitalet and is localised mainly at Rigshospitalet but with laboratories also at Bispebjerg Hospital and Hvidovre Hospital. Patients are referred from all clinical departments of Rigshospitalet, Bispebjerg Hospital, Hvidovre Hospital, Frederiksberg Hospital and Amager Hospital and from other hospitals in Denmark and Greenland. In particular patients are referred from the Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, Child Neurology, Rheumatology and Orthopaedic surgery. In addition patients are referred from neurologists and other specialists in private practice.
About 8.500 patients are examined at the department each year. The specific methods include EEG examinations, evoked potentials, nerve conduction studies and EMG examinations. Furthermore we perform intra-operative monitoring during surgery on the spinal cord and spinal column and during epilepsy surgery of the brain. In collaboration with Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurophysiology staff the epilepsy monitoring unit to diagnose patients with complicated epilepsy. The 45 staff members include 9-10 physicians, 1 head nurse, 23 neurophysiology technicians, 5 secretaries, 6 neurophysiology technician trainees and 3 engineers.