THE VALUE OF ELECTRODIAGNOSTIC STUDIES IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF LUMBOSACRAL NERVE ROOT DISORDERS CAUSED BY INTERVERTEBRAL DISC HERNIATION
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Abstract
Background: Lumbosacral radiculopathy caused by intervertebral disc herniation is a common condition. A definitive diagnosis is usually based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); however, a major limitation is the relatively high cost of imaging. Studies worldwide have shown that, in certain cases, electrodiagnostic studies (EDX) also play a useful role in the diagnosis of radiculopathy. In Vietnam, several studies have examined the relationship between EDX, clinical findings, and MRI; nevertheless, to date, the available data remain limited, particularly regarding the diagnostic value of EDX in lumbosacral radiculopathy due to intervertebral disc herniation.
Objective: (1) To determine the proportion of lumbosacral root injury on EDX. (2) To investigate the correlation between EDX, MRI and clinical diagnosis in lumbosacral radiculopathy of disc herniation patients. (3) To evaluate the diagnostic value of EDX in lumbosacral radiculopathy due to intervertebral disc herniation.
Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study on patients with lumbosacral disc herniation who had clinical diagnosis, MRI and EDX results and visited the clinic of My Phuoc Hospital (04/2025-8/2025).
Results: A total of 119 patients were surveyed. The L4-L5 disc has the highest rate of herniation (48.8%). L5 root compression is the most common on MRI (64.7%) and on EDX (78.2%). There is a statistically significant correlation between MRI and EDX in L4 (OR=36.9), L5 (OR=10.8), S1 (OR=4.3) nerve root damage due to lumbar disc herniation with p<0,001. EDX has a high sensitivity (88.9%-100%) and negative predictive value (96.2%-100%) when compared with clinical criteria combined with MRI.
Conclusion and Proposal: EDX is highly valuable in diagnosing radiculopathy. In clinical practice, EDX can replace MRI in cases of contraindications, patients unable to afford MRI, or MRI results do not correlate with clinical findings.
Keywords
Clinical diagnosis, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Electrodiagnostic study, lumbosacral nerve root, radiculopathy
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References
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