The Pressure Specified Sensory Device or PSSD, created by Johns Hopkins School of Medicine’s professor, Dr. A Lee Dellon, M.D., was designed to test the health of nerves in a patient’s body. He created the testing device after discovering that EMG and Nerve Conduction Studies weren’t accurate nor did they calculate the health of the nerve. Today, professionals recommend diabetic patients have a PSSD test every six months in order to detect the need for neuropathy treatment as early as possible.

Why A Pressure Specified Sensory Device?

From the moment the PSSD became mainstream it has been found to be the most reliable and accurate method created to date. In short, it measures axonal or nerve degeneration by determining nerve innervations density and threshold levels. However, patients prefer this method because it’s painless, FDA approved, and there are no needles involved. It’s also convenient because it takes five minutes or less.

To complete the test, the patient lays back, reclined in a chair, while the two metal prongs of the testing device are touched gently against the patient’s skin. After a few passes, the test is done and the patient can go home. The test appears simple, but the prongs actually send complex information back to a computer where the information is collected and displayed in a report. This details the results of each nerve.

Who Should Have PSSD Testing?

Diabetic patients, even those who have underwent neuropathy surgery, are generally required to undergo PSSD testing every six months. The goal is to identify the degradation of nerves and the need for treatment before extensive, irreversible damage occurs.

Others who are experiencing symptoms of nerve damage or sensory problems can benefit from the tests as well. This includes those who have undergone neuropathy surgery or other surgical procedures but have failed to see any improvement. It is also used to track progress and healing after a neuropathy treatment.

The Dangers of Pressure Specified Sensory Device

In reality, there are no side effects or genuine threats to the patient’s health with this type of test. The only issues are the variables that can affect the accuracy of the tests themselves, since this can ultimately determine whether a neuropathy treatment is needed as well as the success of a neuropathy surgery.

The main possible complication is the chance of receiving a false positive or negative test result. Some of the causes for these incorrect results include the ability of the technician performing the test, the patient, the reading of the test results, the understanding of the patient’s previous medical history, and the results of a physical examination.

A Pressure Specified Sensory Device is an excellent way to identify the need for a neuropathy treatment or determine the success a neuropathy surgery. And, with it being a fast and painless procedure, it is by far one of the best weapons against permanent nerve damage.

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