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Evaluation of persons with suspected lumbosacral and cervical radiculopathy: Electrodiagnostic assessment and implications for treatment and outcomes ( Part I)
Author(s) -
Dillingham Timothy R.,
Annaswamy Thiru M.,
Plastaras Christopher T.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.26997
Subject(s) - medicine , cervical radiculopathy , electromyography , radicular pain , entrapment neuropathy , lumbosacral joint , physical therapy , carpal tunnel syndrome , nerve conduction , polyneuropathy , nerve conduction study , physical medicine and rehabilitation , neck pain , referral , rehabilitation , surgery , cervical spine , pathology , lumbar , alternative medicine , family medicine
Persons with back, neck, and limb symptoms constitute a major referral population to specialists in electrodiagnostic (EDX) medicine. The evaluation of these patients involves consideration of both the common and less common disorders. The EDX examination with needle electromyography (EMG) is the most important means of testing for radiculopathy. This test has modest sensitivity but high specificity and well complements imaging of the spine. Needle EMG in combination with nerve conduction testing is valuable in excluding entrapment neuropathies and polyneuropathy―conditions that frequently mimic radicular symptoms. In this first of a two‐part review, the optimal EDX evaluation of persons with suspected radiculopathy is presented. In part two, the implications of EDX findings for diagnosis and clinical management of persons with radiculopathy are reviewed.