Evaluation of persons with suspected lumbosacral and cervical radiculopathy: Electrodiagnostic assessment and implications for treatment and outcomes (Part II)

The electrodiagnostic (EDX) examination with needle electromyography (EMG) is the most important means of testing for radiculopathy. This test has modest sensitivity but high specificity and complements imaging of the spine. In this second of a two‐part review, the implications of electrodiagnostic...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Muscle & nerve 2020-10, Vol.62 (4), p.474-484
Main Authors: Dillingham, Timothy R., Annaswamy, Thiru M., Plastaras, Christopher T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bone surgery
Corticosteroids
Electromyography
nerve conduction
radiculopathy
Sensitivity analysis
Spine
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The electrodiagnostic (EDX) examination with needle electromyography (EMG) is the most important means of testing for radiculopathy. This test has modest sensitivity but high specificity and complements imaging of the spine. In this second of a two‐part review, the implications of electrodiagnostic findings for diagnosis and clinical management of persons with radiculopathy are reviewed. An EMG confirmed lumbosacral radiculopathy is associated with better clinical outcomes for persons undergoing aggressive conservative management. A positive EMG test portends a better clinical response to epidural corticosteroid injections. If a person undergoes spine surgery, a positive pre‐operative EMG for radiculopathy is also associated with better outcomes. See article on pages 462–473 in this issue.
ISSN:0148-639X
1097-4598
DOI:10.1002/mus.27008