Henry C Tong1. 1. Michigan Head and Spine Institute and Providence Hospital, 29275 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, MI 48034, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the specificity of needle electromyography for lumbar radiculopathy in subjects with low back pain and sciatica without stenosis. DESIGN: Subjects 55 yrs or older with diagnoses of low back pain and sciatica underwent a standardized monopolar needle evaluation by blinded electromyographers as part of a spinal stenosis study. The presence or absence of radiculopathy was determined using different electrodiagnostic criteria. RESULTS: Seventy-two subjects with a mean age of 64.6 years (SD, 7.0 yrs) were studied. When only positive sharp waves or fibrillations were considered abnormal, most of the diagnostic criteria--two limb muscles + associated lumbar paraspinal muscle abnormal, two limb muscles abnormal, or one limb muscle + associated lumbar paraspinal muscle abnormal--had 97%, 96%, and 92% specificity, respectively. When 30% or greater polyphasia in the limb muscles was also considered abnormal, the respective specificities were 90%, 81%, and 85%. When 20% or greater polyphasia in the limb muscles was also considered abnormal, the respective specificities were 90%, 74%, and 71% [corrected]. CONCLUSIONS: There is good specificity for lumbosacral radiculopathy when appropriate diagnostic criteria are used.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the specificity of needle electromyography for lumbar radiculopathy in subjects with low back pain and sciatica without stenosis. DESIGN: Subjects 55 yrs or older with diagnoses of low back pain and sciatica underwent a standardized monopolar needle evaluation by blinded electromyographers as part of a spinal stenosis study. The presence or absence of radiculopathy was determined using different electrodiagnostic criteria. RESULTS: Seventy-two subjects with a mean age of 64.6 years (SD, 7.0 yrs) were studied. When only positive sharp waves or fibrillations were considered abnormal, most of the diagnostic criteria--two limb muscles + associated lumbar paraspinal muscle abnormal, two limb muscles abnormal, or one limb muscle + associated lumbar paraspinal muscle abnormal--had 97%, 96%, and 92% specificity, respectively. When 30% or greater polyphasia in the limb muscles was also considered abnormal, the respective specificities were 90%, 81%, and 85%. When 20% or greater polyphasia in the limb muscles was also considered abnormal, the respective specificities were 90%, 74%, and 71% [corrected]. CONCLUSIONS: There is good specificity for lumbosacral radiculopathy when appropriate diagnostic criteria are used.
Authors: Mutahir Tunio; Mushabbab Al Asiri; Yasser Bayoumi; Ali Abdullah O Balbaid; Majid AlHameed; Stanciu Laura Gabriela; Ahmad Amir O Ali Journal: Onco Targets Ther Date: 2014-12-23 Impact factor: 4.147