title: Cervical radiculopathy. Clinical, radiographic and EMG findings.
abstract: This retrospective study reviewed clinical, radiographic, and electromyographic (EMG) findings in 108 patients with cervical radiculopathy. Radiographic evaluation included measurements of the size of the intervertebral foramina and the space for the intervertebral disk. The results showed that the clinical findings correlated well with the EMG abnormalities but not with the radiographic findings. The extent of the intervertebral foramen and the disk space narrowing correlated poorly with the severity of EMG abnormalities. It is suggested that radiographic findings alone may be an inadequate basis for a diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy. EMG examination may be very helpful in such a diagnosis and may be more accurate in assessing radiculopathy than the plain films in certain cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of California, Irvine.
authors.forename: C Z
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging