Comparison of electromyography / nerve conduction studies and magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathy

ABSTRACT

To compare EMG/NCS with MRI in diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathy. Cross-sectional comparative. The study was carried out at Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, for a period of six months, from January 2007 to June 2007. Fifty consenting patients with clinical lumbosacral radiculopathy were included, they underwent MRI and NCS/EMG, and then both procedures were compared for diagnosis of radiculopathy. MRI and NCS/EMG had comparable sensitivity but MRI was less accurately correlated with clinical estimated level of radiculopathy. Both NCS/EMG and MRI are time sensitive investigations which provide different information regarding the pathology. NCS/EMG reveal physiological etiology of radiculopathy, compared to MRI, which gives the anatomical information. Every patient with clinical lumbosacral radiculopathy should undergo NCS/EMG for confirmation of diagnosis. However, when anatomical lesion is suspected, or surgical intervention is planned, MRI should complement it