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Electrophysiologic evaluation of lumbosacral radiculopathies

Electromyography, late responses, and somatosensory evoked potentials

From the Departments of Neurology (Drs. Aminoff, Goodin, and Parry) and Neurosurgery (Drs. Barbaro. Weinstein, and Rosenblurn), School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA.

We compared the diagnostic utility of EMG, F wave and H-reflex studies, and peroneal and dermatomal SEPs in evaluating 28 patients with clinically unequivocal L-5 or S-1 compressive root lesions. The single most useful electrophysiologic technique was EMG, which often provided evidence of denervation in a myotomal pattern when other electrophysiologic findings were normal. We found abnormal late responses in 14 patients, but always in association with EMG abnormalities. Peroneal-derived SEPs were always normal. Dermatomal SEPs confirmed the diagnosis in seven patients, including two in whom other electrophysiologic studies were normal.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Aminoff, Department of Neurology—794-M. University of California Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94143.

Accepted for publication January 24, 1985.

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