title: Differentiating Radiculopathy from Lower Extremity Arthropathy.
abstract: Low back and lower extremity pain are among the most common complaints encountered by physicians. Distinguishing pain due to primary extremity pathology versus lumbar radiculopathy can be challenging. Careful physical examination and appropriate imaging with plain radiographs and advanced studies as needed are important in determining the cause of lower extremity complaints. Over-utilization of advanced imaging may reveal otherwise asymptomatic spinal pathology and can lead to an incorrect diagnosis. In patients in whom surgical intervention is being considered by a spine or arthroplasty surgeon, intra-articular or epidural steroid injections may help to reveal the underlying cause of pain via short-term symptomatic relief. Additionally, patients presenting with vague lower extremity pain after recent or distant joint arthroplasty should be considered for potential failure or infection of their implant before assuming the symptoms are coming from the lumbar spine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI. Electronic address: sdefroda@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Steven F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: DeFroda
authors.affiliation: Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedics, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Alan H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Deren
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007268:Injections, Epidural; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D007592:Joint Diseases; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D010808:Physical Examination; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones
keywords: Back pain; Hip pain; Osteoarthritis; Radiculopathy