Chapter 29: Radiculopathy

Front 1

1. In a sensory radiculopathy of a single nerve root, would you expect sensory loss to be A) severe in the discrete distribution of a dermatome or B) vague and poorly localized paresthesias?

Back 1

459) Because dermatomes overlap widely with adjacent dermatomes, it is very unusual for an isolated radiculopathy to present with severe or dense sensory disturbance. Paresthesias are usually poorly localizable

Front 2

2. What PNS disorder is suggested by a discrete area of dense sensory loss?

Back 2

(459) Well-defined dense numbness is more consistent with a peripheral nerve lesion than a radiculopathy.

Front 3

3. Which is more consistent with a radiculopathy of exactly one root: paralysis or weakness?

Back 3

(459) Because muscles receive innervation from more than one nerve root, radiculopathy at just one level should result in weakness rather than paralysis.

Front 4

4. Which roots contribute to the brachial plexus but don’t have reliable associated muscle stretch reflexes?

Back 4

(459) C5 and C6 contribute to biceps and brachioradialis. C7 is the chief supply to the triceps. C8 and T1 don’t have reliable associated muscle stretch reflexes, although abnormalities of C8 will sometimes suppress triceps.

Front 5

5. Which reflex is often unobtainable but when present and asymmetric could be a clue to an L5 radiculopathy?

Back 5

(459) Although the quads allow testing of L3 and L4 and the ankle jerks allow testing of S1, there is no reliable muscle stretch reflex to test for L5. When present and asymmetric, the medial hamstring reflex can contribute to a clinical picture of an L5 radiculopathy.

Front 6

6. Can a patient have clinically significant radiculopathy with a normal spine MRI?

Back 6

(460) Yes. Many causes of radiculopathy may not be apparent on MRI including vasculitides such as diabetes; infections including Zoster, HSV, CMV and Lyme disease; and infiltration with sarcoid or by tumor.

Front 7

7. Your patient describes pain in the neck, shoulder and anterior arm with paresthesias in the shoulder. You find abnormal spontaneous activity on needle study of deltoid, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, rhomboids, biceps and brachioradialis. Radiculopathy of which root is most consistent with this picture?

Back 7

(460) This picture is most consistent with radiculopathy at C5. Paresthesias of C6, which also supplies these muscles, would include radial forearm, thumb and index finger.

Front 8

8. Horner’s syndrome is most associated with radiculopathy of which root? (460)

Back 8

You would be most likely to find a Horner’s syndrome with a T1 radiculopathy.

Front 9

9. Which 3 muscle groups could be weak in an L3 or L4 radiculopathy?

Back 9

(460) Both L3 and L4 supply quadriceps and thigh adductors. Illiopsoas is more L3 than L4. To recap, L3 supplies quads, adductors and illiopsoas; L4 supplies quads and adductors.

Front 10

10. Name 3 muscles that move the ankle that are supplied by L5.

Back 10

(460) L5 supplies tibialis anterior, tibialis posterior, and the peronei.

Front 11

11. An L5 radiculopathy could result in weakness of tibialis anterior, tibialis posterior and the peronei. Which ASIA exam key muscle is also supplied by L5?

Back 11

(460) L5 supplies extensor hallucis longus.

Front 12

12. An L5 radiculopathy could result in weakness of tibialis anterior, tibialis posterior and the peronei. Extensor hallucis longus could also be affected. Name 2 hip muscles that L5 supplies.

Back 12

(460) L5 supplies gluteus medius and tensor fascia latae.

Front 13

13. Three muscle sets are key muscles for an S1 radiculopathy, 1 each in the lower leg, thigh and hips. Name these three muscle groups.

Back 13

(460) For an S1 radiculopathy, in the lower leg test the plantarflexors. In the thigh test the hamstrings. In the hips test the gluteus maximus. Plantarflexors, hammies, gluts.

Front 14

14. In an S1radiculopathy, the sensory disturbance is in the lateral foot, posterior calf and sole of the foot. Where’s the sensory disturbance in an L3 radiculopathy?

Back 14

(460). In an L3 radiculopathy, the sensory disturbance is in the anterior thigh.

Front 15

15. In an L3 radiculopathy, the sensory disturbance is in the anterior thigh. Where’s the sensory disturbance in an L4 radiculopathy?

Back 15

(460). In an L4 radiculopathy, the sensory disturbance is in the medial calf and medial foot.

Front 16

16. In an L4 radiculopathy, the sensory disturbance is in the medial calf and medial foot. Where’s the sensory disturbance in an L5 radiculopathy?

Back 16

(460). In an L5 radiculopathy, the sensory disturbance is in the dorsum of the foot, the great toe and the lateral calf.

Front 17

17. In an L5 radiculopathy, the sensory disturbance is in the dorsum of the foot, the great toe and the lateral calf. Where’s the sensory disturbance in an S1 radiculopathy? (460).

Back 17

In an S1 radiculopathy, the sensory disturbance is in the lateral foot, posterior calf and sole of the foot.

Front 18

18. In an L3 radiculopathy, the sensory disturbance is in the anterior thigh. Where is pain?

Back 18

460) In an L3 radiculopathy, pain is also in the anterior thigh and groin.

Front 19

19. In an L4 radiculopathy, the sensory disturbance is in the medial calf and medial foot. Where is the pain?

Back 19

(460) In an L4 radiculopathy, pain is in the anterior thigh but not in the groin.

Front 20

20. In an L5 radiculopathy, the sensory disturbance is in the dorsum of the foot, the great toe and the lateral calf. Where is the pain?

Back 20

(460) In an L5 radiculopathy, pain is in the posterolateral thigh and calf, extending into the great toe and dorsum of the foot. In other words, the pain is in the posterolateral thigh plus the distribution of sensory disturbance.

Front 21

21. In an S1radiculopathy, the sensory disturbance is in the lateral foot, posterior calf and sole of the foot. Where’s the pain?

Back 21

(460) In an S1 radiculopathy, the pain is in the posterolateral thigh and calf, extending into the lateral toes and heel. In other words, the pain is roughly in the posterolateral thigh plus the distribution of sensory disturbance.

Front 22

22. Your patient with radiculopathy has pain that radiates into the foot. Which two root levels are the most likely cause?

Back 22

(460) Pain radiating into the foot is more likely to be caused by L5 and S1 radiculopathies than L3 or L4.

Front 23

23. Your patient with radiculopathy has pain that radiates into the anterior thigh. Which two root levels are the most likely cause?

Back 23

(460) Pain radiating into the anterior thigh is more likely to be caused by L3 and L4 radiculopathies.

Front 24

24. Can entrapment neuropathies such as carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome cause pain proximal to the entrapment?

Back 24

(461) Although entrapment neuropathies don’t result in proximal paresthesias, they can refer their pain proximally into arm and shoulder.

Front 25

25. Both radiculopathies and entrapment neuropathies may result in proximal pain, thus making it difficult to distinguish them clinically. One way to tell them apart is with the distribution of paresthesia, but this may not be helpful in mild cases. Another way to tell them apart is the presence or absence of pain in which location?

Back 25

(461) Suspect radiculopathy rather than entrapment neuropathy if a prominent pain complaint is in the back or neck and if pain is worse with movement of the back or neck.

Front 26

26. Do radiculopathies typically yield normal or abnormal nerve conduction studies?

Back 26

(462) Radiculopathies usually result in nerve conduction studies that are normal. The value of performing nerve conduction studies in a case of suspected radiculopathy is in excluding conditions with abnormal studies such as entrapment neuropathy or plexopathy.

Front 27

27. Radiculopathy at which root may be confused clinically with an ulnar neuropathy?

Back 27

(462) An ulnar neuropathy may appear clinically similar to a c8 radiculopathy.

Front 28

28. What is the most common peripheral nerve injury that can mimic an L5 radiculopathy?

Back 28

(462) An L5 radiculopathy can present with leg pain, foot drop and paresthesias over the dorsum of the foot and lateral calf. These symptoms may also be caused by a peroneal neuropathy at the fibular head. Both result in leg pain, foot drop and paresthesias over the dorsum of the foot and lateral calf.

Front 29

29. Which nerve conduction study is uniquely suited for detecting an S1 radiculopathy?

Back 29

(463) You would consider an S1 radiculopathy if you had asymmetric results for an H-reflex recorded at the soleus.

Front 30

30. Which nerve conduction studies can be helpful in detecting radiculopathy of L5 or S1?

Back 30

(463) Both L5 and S1 radiculopathies may result in abnormal F-wave responses of peroneal and tibial nerves.

Front 31

31. If a radiculopathy results in weakness, what effect will this have on distal CMAP? (464)

Back 31

A radiculopathy resulting in weakness may have caused axonal loss or proximal conduction block, thus resulting in diminished amplitude and slightly diminished conduction velocity and slightly prolonged distal latency. The latter two measures will not reach the respective 75% and 130% thresholds that require demyelination, as the effect distally is only from axon loss.

Front 32

32. Preston recommends routine nerve conduction studies in the work-up of an upper limb radiculopathy. In cases of suspected C6-7 radiculopathy, which additional nerve conduction study is recommended?

Back 32

(463) In cases of suspected C6-7 radiculopathy, Preston suggests at least one internal comparison study of median vs ulnar or radial nerve to rule out a carpal tunnel syndrome.

Front 33

33. For both upper and lower limb radiculopathy work-ups, Preston suggests doing at least one SNAP. If you only get to do one SNAP, how should you choose which to do?

Back 33

(463) Preston suggests doing at least one SNAP in the distribution of the suspected radiculopathy.

Front 34

34. Which is more important in the work-up of radiculopathy: motor or sensory nerve conduction studies?

Back 34

(464) Nerve conduction studies can help differentiate radiculopathy from more distal problems such as plexopathy or peripheral nerve pathology because radiculopathies have normal SNAPs and the more distal pathologies have abnormal SNAPs. Sensory nerve conduction studies are the most important part of the nerve conduction assessment of suspected radiculopathy.

Front 35

35. What are three explanations a normal SNAP in an area of numbness?

Back 35

465) One explanation is that the lesion could be proximal to the dorsal root ganglion. This includes radiculopathies, spinal cord and central lesions. A second explanation is that the lesion is hyperacute, less than the sensory semana of six to ten days required for Wallerian degeneration. A third explanation is proximal demyelination with conduction block. To recap: 1) Proximal to dorsal root ganglion 2) hyperacute 3) proximal conduction block.

Front 36

36. In working up a suspected C7 radiculopathy, you find abnormal spontaneous activity and decreased recruitment of triceps and extensor carpi radialis, both of which have C7 innervation. For your next muscle to sample, justify your choice of selecting either flexor carpi radialis or extensor carpi ulnaris.

Back 36

(465) You would chose flexor carpi radialis. The wrist flexors are median-innervated, whereas extensor carpi ulnaris would be a third radial muscle and thus not helpful in distinguishing a C7 radiculopathy from a radial neuropathy. The general principle of this question is that you must sample muscles of the same myotome but of different peripheral nerves.

Front 37

37. In working up a suspected L5 radiculopathy, you find abnormal spontaneous activity in extensor hallucis longus and medial gastrocs. For your next muscle to sample, justify your choice of selecting either gluteus medius or peroneus longus.

Back 37

(465) You would chose gluteus medius because it is proximal. The general principle of this question is that you should sample proximal as well as distal muscles in a myotome to rule out peripheral polyneuropathy.

Front 38

38. In working up a C7 radiculopathy, which other myotomes would you sample and why?

Back 38

(466) In working up a C7 or any other radiculopathy, you would sample the myotomes above and below to exclude a more widespread process.

Front 39

39. In what fraction of radiculopathies are paraspinal muscles abnormal?

Back 39

(466) Paraspinals are abnormal in radiculopathy half of the time. Abnormal paraspinals clearly localize the lesion to the root or anterior horn. Normal paraspinals do not rule out radiculopathy.

Front 40

40. Paraspinals should always be examined in a radiculopathy work-up except for what subset of patients?

Back 40

466) Fibrillation potentials in paraspinal muscles may be a result of spinal surgery. It isn’t helpful to needle paraspinals after spinal surgery.

Front 41

41. Which radial muscle is most helpful to sample in a workup of a C8 radiculopathy?

Back 41

(466) For a C8 radiculopathy, in addition to sampling APB and FDI, you would sample EIP.

Front 42

42. To work up a suspected L4 radiculopathy, name muscles from 3 peripheral nerves you could sample.

Back 42

To work up an L4 radiculopathy, you would start with the femoral nerve’s quads. You would also sample the deep peroneal nerve’s tibialis anterior and the adductor magnus which is supplied by both obturator nerve and tibial portion of sciatic nerve. Magnus means big – so big that it is supplied by two nerves. Quads; tibialis anterior; adductor magnus.

Front 43

43. Name 4 muscles you could sample for an L3 radiculopathy?

Back 43

467) For an L3 radiculopathy, you could test quads, illiopsoas, adductor longus and adductor magnus. Adductor longus has less L4 than does adductor magnus, so it might be a better muscle for an L3 work-up.

Front 44

44. To work up a suspected L5 radiculopathy, name muscles from 3 peripheral nerves above the knee you could sample.

Back 44

467) To work up an L5 radiculopathy, above the knee muscles include, from proximal to distal, the gluteus medius from inferior gluteal nerve; the L5 paraspinals from dorsal rami; and the medial hamstrings from sciatic nerve. Just as the L4 dermatome is medial leg and L5 dermatome is lateral leg, the L5 medial hamstrings are more caudally innervated than the S1 lateral hamstrings.

Front 45

45. To work up a suspected L5 radiculopathy, name muscles from 3 peripheral nerves below the knee you could sample.

Back 45

(467) To work up an L5 radiculopathy, below the knee muscles include, from proximal to distal: from tibialis anterior from deep peroneal; tibialis posterior from tibial nerve; peroneus longus from superficial peroneal nerve. 2 Tibialis and peroneus have L5.

Front 46

46. To work up a suspected S1 radiculopathy, name 2 muscles from different peripheral nerves above the knee you could sample.

Back 46

467) To work up an S1 radiculopathy, above the knee muscles include, from proximal to distal, gluteus maximus from superior gluteal nerve; and lateral hamstrings from sciatic or peroneal nerves.

Front 47

47. You are working up a suspected S1 radiculopathy. How many peripheral nerves supply S1 muscles below the knee?

Back 47

(467) S1 muscles below the knee are all supplied by the tibial nerve. These include plantarflexors and foot intrinsic. Tibialis posterior, also from tibial nerve, has some S1 but is better for L5.

Front 48

48. One day after acute injury to a nerve root, what are findings on needle study?

Back 48

(466). One day after an acute root injury, the only findings on needle study are reduced recruitment in the affected myotome.

Front 49

49. How long does it take after acute root injury for abnormal spontaneous activity to develop in paraspinals

Back 49

(466)? Paraspinals develop abnormal spontaneous activity 10-14 days after root injury.

Front 50

50. How long does it take after acute root injury for abnormal spontaneous activity to develop in hip muscles

Back 50

(466)? Hip muscless develop abnormal spontaneous activity 2-3 weeks after root injury.

Front 51

51. How long does it take after acute root injury for abnormal spontaneous activity to develop in lower leg muscles

Back 51

(466)? Lower leg muscless develop abnormal spontaneous activity 3-6 weeks after root injury.

Front 52

52. Name 3 changes in MUAP morphology that result from collateral sprouting.

Back 52

(467) Collateral sprouting happens sooner in the proximal muscles. MUAPs become polyphasic with long durations and larger amplitudes.

Front 53

53. Which of these three changes in MUAP morphology happens first?

Back 53

(467) The first change that collateral sprouting causes in MUAP morphology is polyphasicity.

Front 54

54. Months after collateral sprouting begins, which resolves first: abnormal spontaneous activity or decreased recruitment?

Back 54

(467) Successful reinnervation resolves abnormal spontaneous activity before it resolves decreased recruitment.

Front 55

55. In patients with true radiculopathy, are false negative EMG studies qualitatively common or rare?

Back 55

(467) In patients with true radiculopathy, equivocal or false negative studies are not uncommon.

Front 56

56. Preston points out that a limitation of EMG is that it is often difficult to localize a radiculopathy’s level. They cite a study that found that 2 root levels were most difficult to differentiate from one another. Which levels are these?

Back 56

(468) It is most difficult to distinguish lesions of C6 from those of C7.

Front 57

57. Is it common or rare to find clinical weakness in a radiculopathy, and what impact does this have on the likelihood of finding decreased recruitment?

Back 57

(470) In radiculopathies, significant weakness is rare, so decreased recruitment is also unusual. Were the study requested immediately after acute root injury, decreased recruitment would be the only possible abnormality, and it would be unlikely without significant weakness on exam.

Front 58

58. Is it possible for a purely demyelinating radiculopathy to result in EMG abnormalities?

Back 58

470) A purely demyelinating radiculopathy may rarely result in conduction block, weakness and decreased recruitment.

Front 59

59. Is it possible for a purely sensory radiculopathy to result in EMG abnormalities?

Back 59

(470) A purely sensory radiculopathy is undetectable by EMG and nerve conduction studies.

Front 60

60. Is it common or uncommon for some muscles in radiculopathy’s myotome to be unaffected?

Back 60

(470) It is common for some muscles in a radiculopathy’s myotome to be spared.

Front 61

61. Is it common or uncommon for needle study of paraspinal muscles to be normal in a radiculopathy?

Back 61

(470) It is common that a radiculopathy results in normal needle study of paraspinals. The book sites a study of 93 cases of radiculopathy in which roughly half of the paraspinals tested normal.

Front 62

62. What patient position is ideal for needle study of paraspinals?

Back 62

(470) For optimal needle study of paraspinals, the patient should be side lying in a fetal position with the side to be studied facing up.

Front 63

63. EMG of a patient with radiculopathy shows polyphasic MUAPs in the paraspinals but fibs and positive sharps only in limb myotome muscles. What physiologic process could explain this?

Back 63

(470) Paraspinal muscles are the first to be affected by radiculopathy and also the first to be reinnervated. This picture is consistent with a healing radiculopathy.

Front 64

64. If your patient has normal paraspinals but abnormal spontaneous activity in limb muscles, which NCS is most important in distinguishing radiculopathy from plexopathy?

Back 64

? (470) As normal paraspinals are common in radiculopathy, the best NCS to distinguish between radiculopathy and plexopathy are the SNAPs in the distribution of the affected root. Normal SNAPs in a distribution of sensory complaints is consistent with a lesion proximal to the dorsal root ganglion. Normal SNAPs in the distribution of the affected root is more consistent with radiculopathy than plexopathy.

Front 65

65. Is it easy or difficult to know the exact root level of the paraspinal muscles that you needle during EMG?

Back 65

(470) There is significant overlap in the innervation of the paraspinal muscles, especially the superficial ones. Abnormal spontaneous activity in paraspinals is very helpful in marking the lesion as at or proximal to the nerve root, but it is less helpful in determining the root level of the lesion. Limb muscles are more helpful for determining the root level.

Front 66

66. What components of EMG distinguish a radiculopathy or polyradiculopathy from motor neuron disease?

Back 66

(471) A very important concept often overlooked by electromyographers is that EMG and NCS results can not distinguish between radiculopathy and motor neuron disease. (However in some polyradiculopathies F waves may be more abnormal than in motor neuron disease.)

Front 67

67. Although EMG is the same, motor neuron disease and polyradiculopathy are different clinically. Name one symptom that may be present in polyradiculopathy but absent in motor neuron disease.

Back 67

(471) Polyradiculopathy usually has prominent sensory symptoms of pain and paresthesias. Motor neuron disease is purely motor.

Front 68

68. Name one physical exam finding that could help distinguish ALS from polyradiculopathy.

Back 68

(471) In polyradiculopathy you expect diminished muscle stretch reflexes in the affected myotomes. In ALS some muscle stretch reflexes may be diminished but some may be normal or increased.

Front 69

69. Why do we not perform needle study on paraspinals of patients who have had spinal surgery?

Back 69

(471) After spinal surgery, fibrillation potentials may persist for years in the paraspinals. It’s not understood why.

Front 70

70. You find fibs in distal muscles only but suspect radiculopathy clinically. What physiologic process could explain this? What component of the study will help distinguish radiculopathy from a more distal lesion?

Back 70

(471) You may find fibs in only distal muscles if proximal muscles have been reinnervated. You look for polyphasic, long duration MUAPs in proximal muscles and look for normal SNAPs in the sensory distribution of the affected root.

Front 71

71. What are the typical findings on EMG and NCS in lumbar stensosis?

Back 71

(471-2) In lumbar stenosis, symptoms are usually intermittent and only occur when posture compresses the roots. Fixed EMG changes seldom occur.

Front 72

72. Preston lists four conditions other than radiculopathy that may result in fibrillations in the paraspinals. Name one such condition that is less likely to affect distal muscles.

Back 72

(472) You can get fibs in proximal muscles, including paraspinals, from myopathies such as polymyositis that have with inflammatory or necrotic features.

Front 73

73. Name a condition that may cause fibs in paraspinals that may also result in brisk reflexes.

Back 73

(472) Fibs in paraspinals may be caused by motor neuron disease such as ALS.

Front 74

74. Name a condition that may cause fibs in paraspinals that is the result of a poison.

Back 74

(472) Fibs in paraspinals may be caused by botulism.

Front 75

75. Name a common condition that may cause fibs in paraspinals that may also cause abnormalities on NCS.

Back 75

(472) Fibs in paraspinals may be caused by neuropathy of the dorsal rami as may be seen in diabetic polyneuropathy.

Front 76

76. What condition which is common in elderly patients may be difficult or impossible to distinguish from partial reinnervation of a bilateral L5-S1 radiculopathy?

Back 76

(472) Preston gives an example of a patient with slightly diminished amplitudes and conduction velocities in bilateral sural, peroneal and tibial nerve conduction studies. H reflexes are slightly prolonged and EMG shows denervation and reinnervation in distal leg muscles. This pattern is consistent both with partial reinnervation from a bilateral L5-S1 radiculopathy and with mild peripheral polyneuropathy. Preston says that a limitation of electrodiagnosis is the inability to distinguish these two pathologies.

Front 77

77. Which one aspect of EMG and NCS is most helpful in distinguishing a C6-7 radiculopathy from median neuropathy?

Back 77

(473) The one study that would best help distinguish between a C6-7 radiculopathy and a median neuropathy is the SNAP to the 2nd and 3rd digits. If the SNAP is abnormal, the lesion is distal to the root.

Front 78

78. If a patient has an intact ankle jerk, will an H-wave be present?

Back 78

(477) An intact ankle jerk on exam means that H-wave should be present.

Front 79

79. If a patient has an absent ankle jerk, will an H-wave be absent?

Back 79

(477) An absent ankle jerk does not mean that the H-wave will be absent; you may still get an H-wave despite an absent ankle jerk.

Front 80

80. Reinnervation is most often successful in which muscle?

Back 80

(478) Preston says that not only are the paraspinals the first muscle to be reinnervated but they are also the most likely to be successfully reinnervated. Preston suggests this is one reason why paraspinals may be normal in roughly half of radiculopathies.