Assessment of nerve conduction study to establish most common electrophysiological predictor of lumbosacral radiculopathy among radiologically diagnosed L5S1 neural foramina compression cases.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electromyography (EMG) are complimentary investigations in diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathy (LSR). With changing pattern of S1 electrodiagnosis by H-reflex study measures, electrophysiological studies were conducted to establish most common electrophysiological predictors of LSR in MRI diagnosed L5S1 neural foramina compression subjects. Fifty subjects, with definite L5S1 neural foramina compression underwent electrophysiological evaluation and the data was analyzed using established electrodiagnostic criteria. Reduced H/ M ratio in combination with absent H response was evident in 74 nerves. H-reflex study was abnormal in 88% subjects. Study concluded that, H/M ratio if used with other H-reflex study variables may be most common predictor of LSR.