title: Focal atrophy of the multifidus muscle in lumbosacral radiculopathy.
abstract: A patient with compelling clinical and electrodiagnostic evidence of a right L5 radiculopathy had focal atrophy of the multifidus at the appropriate level, which served to confirm the radicular nature of the process. The multifidus muscles are innervated by a single root, in contrast to the polysegmental innervation of the rest of the paraspinal muscle mass. Imaging studies may complement needle electromyography in the evaluation of this important structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology (127), Medical College of Virginia, McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Richmond 23249, USA.
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Laine
mesh_terms: D004576:Electromyography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009192:Myelography; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed