Musculoskeletal disorders in referrals for suspected lumbosacral radiculopathy.
OBJECTIVE
An electrodiagnostic evaluation is often requested for patients with suspected lumbosacral radiculopathy. Although musculoskeletal disorders can produce lower-limb symptoms, their prevalence in this referral population is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of common lower-limb musculoskeletal disorders in patients referred for lower-limb electrodiagnosis and determine whether these findings predict study outcome.


METHODS
Subjects undergoing an electrodiagnostic study for lower-limb symptoms and suspected lumbosacral radiculopathy constituted the sample. A standardized clinical and electrodiagnostic evaluation was performed for all patients.


RESULTS
There were 170 subjects included. The mean age was 52 (SD = 17), and 45% were males. The total prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the sample was 32%. The prevalence in those with a normal study was 55% as compared with 21% in those with lumbosacral radiculopathy (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Musculoskeletal disorders are common in patients suspected of having lumbosacral radiculopathy. The high prevalence among both patients with normal studies and those with radiculopathy and other disorders limits the usefulness of this information in predicting study outcome. In particular, it is common for patients to have two or more problems and the presence of a musculoskeletal disorder should not preclude such testing.
Cannon
Daniel E
DE
Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
Dillingham
Timothy R
TR
Miao
Haiyan
H
Andary
Michael T
MT
Pezzin
Liliana E
LE
D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009431:Neural Conduction; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012307:Risk Factors; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology