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Diagnostic value of electrical stimulation of lumbosacral roots in radiculopathies *
Author(s) -
Ertekin C.,
Şirin H.,
Koyuncuoǧlu H. R.,
Mungan B.,
Nejat R. S.,
Selçuki D.,
Ertaş M.,
Araç N.,
Çolakoǧlu Z.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1994.tb02675.x
Subject(s) - stimulation , lumbosacral joint , medicine , nerve root , lumbar , electromyography , electrophysiology , lumbosacral plexus , spinal stenosis , anatomy , physical medicine and rehabilitation
Needle electrical stimulation of the lumbosacral roots at the laminar level of the Th12‐L1 or L1‐2 intervertebral spaces were performed in 24 normal subjects and 58 patients with various kinds of lumbar radiculopathy (unilateral L4, L5 and S1 herniated nucleus pulposus and lumber stenosis). The root stimulation method was compared with conventional needle EMG. Lumber electrical stimulation showed root abnormalities objectively in 80% of patients while the diagnostic value of needle EMG was 65%. Therefore, electrical root stimulation is superior to routine EMG for localizing lumbar root involvement. However, the only needle EMG demonstrated the root pathology in 7 cases (12%) and single electrophysiological abnormality was found by the root stimulation in 16 cases (27%). Thus, both electrophysiological methods should be complementary to each other in evaluation of the lumbar radiculopathy.