Electomyographic Findings and Prognosis in Lumbosacral Radiculopathy

ABSTRACT

We analyzed 77 patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy on the basis of electromyography and radiologic study including CT scan and myelography. The results were as followings 1. In the 62 male and 15 female subjects with a mean age of 39.3 years. The peak incidence was between ages 20 and 40 years (64%). 2. The causes of lumbosacral radiculopathy were herniated lumbosacral intervertebral disc (78%), lumbar strain (9%), fracture of lumbar vertebra (6%), spinal cord tumor (4%), spinal stenosis(3%) in order. 3. Most common involving site was L5 root on EMG and L4-5 intervertabral disc space on radiological study. 4. The prognosis of the patients with normal EMG finding was better than that of the patients with abnormal EMG finding(p<0.05). 5. There was no significant difference between the prognosis of the patients with abnormal radiologic finding and that of the patients with normal radiologic finding.