Thermography is a sensitive and reliable method for diagnosis of radiculopathy. Skin temperature alterations of the involved dermatome named thermatone are diagnostic for sensory root involvement in radiculopathy which can be demonstrated by thermography. Digital infrared thermographic imaging system using computer is development and could measure thermal difference more exactly without hazards or discomforts to patient. Authors present 186 cases of thermographic evaluation in herniated lumbar disc disease by digital infrared thermographic imging system and the results are evaluated with literature review.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Radiculopathy ; Skin Temperature ; Thermography

There are considerable discrepacies between clinical symptoms and imaging diagnosis in the localization of the responsible radiculopathy. The purposes of this study are to analyzed the dynamic alteration of contrast filling of the spinal nerve sleeves during positional changes and to determine how the abnormalities of nerve sleeves no lateral bending A-P views correlate with sciatica. The criteria indicationg the root abnormality in functional myelography were (1) bad filling of ipsilateral root to sciatica and (2) good filling of contralateral root compared with those in neutral A-P view. Of total 77 patients, 67 had radiculopathy and 10 had no radiculopathy. In 23 (34.3%) of 67 patients with radiculopathy and 6 (60%) of 10 patients with no radiculopathy, their clinical symptoms well correlated with conventional myelographic findings. However, in 35 (52.2%) of 67 patients with radiculopathy and 6(60%) of 10 patients with no radiculopathy, their symptoms well correlated with functional myelographic findings. This study suggests that the functional myelogaphy using both lateral bending A-P views can be used as a complementary tool in the evaluation of the radiculopathy.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Myelography* ; Radiculopathy* ; Sciatica ; Spinal Nerves

This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials(D-SSEP) and segrnental somatosensory evoked potentials(S-SSEP) for the diagnosis of lurnbosacral radiculopathy. D-SSEP and S-SSEP were recorded from 30 healthy controls and 16 patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy(LA radiculopathy: 10 cases, L5: 13 cases, SI: 4 cases) who was diagnosed by clinical findings CT and/or MRI. D-SSEP were abnormal in 40%, 30.7% and 25% of the patients with IA, L5 and Sl radiculopathy respectively and S-SSEP were abnormal in 20%, 38% and 50% of the patients with IA, L5 and Sl radiculopathy respectively. The proportion of abnormal findings in the' patients with L4, L5 and Sl radiculopathy was increased to 50%, 46. 1% and 50% respectively by administering both of D-SSEP and S-SSEP. In conclusion, D-SSEP and S-SSEP are simple and noninvasive test but insensitive studies for diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathy. The diagnostic sensitivity could be increased by usmg both of these two studies.
Diagnosis ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Radiculopathy*

OBJECTIVE: It is not unusual to decompress two consecutive disc levels in treating patients with multiple radiculopathy or uncertain level diagnosis. However, the controversy over whether to use corpectomy or bisegmental diskectomy for anterior cervical fusion is still largely unsettled. The aim of this study is to define the properties of these two surgical options. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of radiological data and clinical records only in patients whom the follow up period is longer than 12 months. Functional outcome, fusion rate, complication rate, and duration of anesthesia were analyzed in both groups. RESULTS: In total of 61 cases, corpectomy was performed in 34 and the bisegmental diskectomy in 27 patients. Mean follow-up periods were over 24 months in both groups. Anesthesia time was shorter in corpectomy patients(280 minutes vs. 300 minutes in segmental diskectomy). However, the bisegmental diskectomy group was better in achieving good clinical outcome(92.6% vs. 82%). Overall fusion rate in bisegmental diskectomy was 100%. Hardware failure rate was lower in bisegmental diskectomy group(11% vs. 18%). Revision was needed in 6% of corpectomy group. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, although the anesthesia time is slightly longer in bisegmental fusion, we believe the method of bisegmental diskectomy is better in accomplishing higher fusion rate and lower complication rate.
Anesthesia ; Diagnosis ; Diskectomy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Radiculopathy ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of MR imaging in cases of traumatic brachial plexus injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 25 patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury as seen on MR images prior to surgical exploration and repair. MR images were retrospectively evaluated for nerve root avulsion and pseudomeningocele, and postganglionic lesions. Results were correlated with final diagnosis after surgical exploration . RESULTS: One hundred and four of 125 root levels (83%) were adequately imaged. Neve root avulsion was shown at 28 levels(54%). Avulsion with or without pseudomeningocele was seen at 37 levels(71%)(80% sensitivity, 91% specificity). The presence of ten of 12 postganglionic lesions (83%) was revealed by MR imaging. CONCLUSION: MR imaging is valuable for revealing preganglionic nerve root avulsion in patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury or postganglionic lesions.
Brachial Plexus* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Radiculopathy ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of MR imaging in cases of traumatic brachial plexus injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 25 patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury as seen on MR images prior to surgical exploration and repair. MR images were retrospectively evaluated for nerve root avulsion and pseudomeningocele, and postganglionic lesions. Results were correlated with final diagnosis after surgical exploration . RESULTS: One hundred and four of 125 root levels (83%) were adequately imaged. Neve root avulsion was shown at 28 levels(54%). Avulsion with or without pseudomeningocele was seen at 37 levels(71%)(80% sensitivity, 91% specificity). The presence of ten of 12 postganglionic lesions (83%) was revealed by MR imaging. CONCLUSION: MR imaging is valuable for revealing preganglionic nerve root avulsion in patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury or postganglionic lesions.
Brachial Plexus* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Radiculopathy ; Retrospective Studies

Diabetic thoracic radiculopathy is not uncommon, but unfamiliar disease entity complicated by long standing diabetes mellitus. It is characterized by typical distressing sensory disturbances and lancinating pains on abdomen and flanks along the thoracic dermatomes in long-standing diabetic patients, which subsides spontaneously. Diagnosis is made by clinical findings and electrodiagnostic technics and other conditions that can affect thoracic spinal root level should be rulled out. With reviewing some literatures, we present two cases which showed the characteristic features of this disorder.
Abdomen ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Radiculopathy* ; Spinal Nerve Roots

Lumbar intraspinal synovial cysts are included in the difference diagnosis of lumbar radiculopathy. Developing imaging modalities has result in increased reporting about these lesions. However, the case of bilateral new lumbar intraspinal synovial cysts after laminectomy has been rarely reported. We report of a rare case with bilateral lumbar intraspinal synovial cysts after laminectomy, requiring surgical excision.
Diagnosis ; Epidural Space ; Laminectomy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Radiculopathy ; Synovial Cyst*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the values of H-reflex from tibialis anterior in the diagnosis of L5 radiculopathy. METHOD: The subjects were 37 patients and 30 normal controls. The patient group was composed of 28 patients with L5 radiculopathy and 9 patients with S1 radiculopathy, which were confirmed by clinical, radiological, and electrodiagnostic studies. Tibialis anterior H-reflex (TA-H reflex) was recorded from maximally contracting tibialis anterior muscle by averaging technique and submaximal stimulation of common peroneal nerve. Sensitivities and specificities were delineated from the several diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: In the normal controls, mean side to side difference in the TA-H reflex latency was 0.66+/-0.48 msec and mean amplitude ratio was 75+/-16%. The diagnostic criteria of abnormal TA-H reflex were latency difference above 1.62 msec and amplitude ratio less than 42.2%. The abnormal TA-H reflexes were shown in 17 out of 28 patients with L5 radiculopathy and 1 out of 9 patients with S1 radiculopathy. Sensitivity and specificity of TA-H reflex as a diagnostic criteria of L5 radiculopathy were 61% and 89%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Tibialis anterior H-reflex might be useful in the diagnosis of L5 radiculopathy.
Diagnosis ; H-Reflex* ; Humans ; Peroneal Nerve ; Radiculopathy* ; Reflex ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of facilitation on H reflex side-to-side amplitude ratio and to determine the effect of averaging under the assumption that an averaging could further stabilize the amplitude ratio in a facilitated condition. METHOD: FCR H reflex amplitude ratios of direct and averaged potentials were measured in fifty asymptomatic subjects under three conditions, during rest, during a constant 5 pound isometric contraction under the hand-dynamometer monitoring, and during a moderate constant isometric contraction under the electromyographer's verbal guidance. RESULTS: The lower limits of the amplitude ratios that encompass 97.5% of subjects by the percentile method under three conditions were as follows; (1) during the rest (n=37); 0.47 (direct) and 0.50 (average), (2) during the constant 5 pound isometric contraction under the hand- dynamometer monitoring; 0.47 (direct) and 0.48 (average), and (3) during the moderate constant isometric contraction under the electromyographer's verbal guidance; 0.48 (direct) and 0.46 (average), respectively. CONCLUSION: There seems to be no definite effect of facilitation and averaging on H reflex amplitude ratio. H reflex amplitude ratio measured in facilitated condition without averaging is still useful for the diagnosis of unilateral radiculopathy.
Diagnosis ; H-Reflex* ; Isometric Contraction ; Radiculopathy ; Upper Extremity