Open AccessPinprick and Light Touch Are Adequate to Establish Sensory Dysfunction in Patients with Lumbar Radicular Pain and Disc Herniation
Author(s) -
Eivind Hasvik,
Anne Julsrud Haugen,
Lars Grøvle
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
clinical orthopaedics and related research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1528-1132
pISSN - 0009-921X
DOI - 10.1097/corr.0000000000001605
Subject(s) - medicine , radicular pain , cauda equina syndrome , sensory system , sciatica , nerve root , lumbar , cauda equina , surgery , physical therapy , spinal cord , psychology , psychiatry , cognitive psychology
The frequency with which sensory disturbances occur in patients with radicular leg pain and disc herniation is not well known, and the efficacy of tests to identify such changes are not firmly established. The presence of sensory disturbances is a key sign of nerve root involvement and may contribute to the diagnosis of a lumbar disc herniation, identify patients for referral to spinal imaging and surgery, and improve disease classification.