title: Electrophysiologic evaluation of lumbosacral radiculopathies: electromyography, late responses, and somatosensory evoked potentials.
abstract: We compared the diagnostic utility of EMG, F wave and H-reflex studies, and peroneal and dermatomal SEPs in evaluating 28 patients with clinically unequivocal L-5 or S-1 compressive root lesions. The single most useful electrophysiologic technique was EMG, which often provided evidence of denervation in a myotomal pattern when other electrophysiologic findings were normal. We found abnormal late responses in 14 patients, but always in association with EMG abnormalities. Peroneal-derived SEPs were always normal. Dermatomal SEPs confirmed the diagnosis in seven patients, including two in whom other electrophysiologic studies were normal.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Aminoff
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Goodin
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Barbaro
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rosenblum
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D011930:Reaction Time