title: Ipsilateral sciatica on femoral nerve stretch test is pathognomonic of an L4/5 disc protrusion.
abstract: The straight leg raising test and the femoral nerve stretch test exert traction on the sciatic and femoral nerve, and the lumbosacral plexus and roots. In 40 patients with a suspected L4/5 disc protrusion, ipsilateral sciatica was induced by the femoral nerve stretch test. We believe that this is a pathognomonic sign of a lateral protrusion at L4/5 level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Government General Hospital, Piraeus, Greece.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Christodoulides
mesh_terms: D005267:Femoral Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007866:Leg; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D009068:Movement; D012585:Sciatica / Q000209:etiology*