Cervical paraspinal muscle abnormalities and symptom duration: A multivariate analysis

Dillingham, Timothy R.; Pezzin, Liliana E.; Lauder, Tamara D.

doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-4598(199805)21:5<640::aid-mus11>3.0.co;2-z

Cited by 15 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 10 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Major proximal and distal lower extremity needle EMG was performed on 124 patients who had previously been diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy by electrodiagnostic methods at least three years ago, and similar to our study, there was no statistically significant relationship between the spontaneous activities (PSW and fibrillation potentials) and duration of the symptoms [8]. In another study, the duration of symptoms and abnormalities in paraspinal, proximal and distal muscles were compared in 139 patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy, and again there was no significant relationship [9].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

“…EMG gives negative results, if performed before denervation or after disappearance of the denervation findings or if reinnervation has not occurred [4]. Secondly, possibility of finding spontaneous activity in the muscles can be related to which axons have been involved in the root level, ratio and size of denervation, rate of denervation and extension of the remaining axons [8].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Comparison of clinical and electrophysiological findings in patients with suspected radiculopathies

İnal

Eser

Aktekin

et al. 2013

BMR

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cervical and lumbar roots may be irritated or compressed due to the pathological conditions such as disc herniations, degenerative foraminal stenosis, trauma and tumors. Electrophysiologic tests are frequently used in conjunction with imaging modalities for evaluation of low back and neck pain radiating to extremities, primarily for the purpose of establishing the presence or absence of a radiculopathy. In this study, we aimed to evalulate the relationship between clinic and electroneuromyographic (ENMG) findings in patients with suspected radiculopathies. Forty one patients with radicular complaints in the upper extremities and 51 patients with radicular complaints in the lower extremities were included in this study. McNemar test and Kappa coefficients between the two methods were applied to each group of patients, in order to test the significance of the difference between the two diagnostic procedures' ability on finding out the pathology. The McNemar test identified a significant difference between the two diagnostic approaches both for cervical and lumbar radiculopathies (p<0.001). The Kappa coefficients between the two methods were determined as 0.08 and 0.07, respectively. This means, efficacy of anamnesis and neurological examination for the prediction of electrodiagnostic tests was found to be limited. Normal neurological examination results in a patient with suspected radiculopathy can not eliminate abnormal electrodiagnostic test results; likewise, abnormal findings in the neurological examination would not mean finding pathologies in the electrodiagnostic tests. For more accurate approach to a patient, neurological examination and electrodiagnostic tests must be used and interpreted together.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of clinical and electrophysiological findings in patients with suspected radiculopathies

İnal

Eser

Aktekin

et al. 2013

BMR

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Some authors have warned that symptom duration and spontaneous activities do not seem to be related to each other 71-74. Although those authors caution against interpreting electrodiagnostic findings based on symptom duration, the evolution of EMG findings could be correlated with the time after injury and the severity of axonal damage 70…”

Section: Electromyographymentioning

confidence: 99%

Pitfalls in Using Electrophysiological Studies to Diagnose Neuromuscular Disorders

2012

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Electrodiagnostic testing is used widely for the full characterization of neuromuscular disorders and for providing unique information on the processes underlying the pathology of peripheral nerves and muscles. However, such testing should be considered as an extension of anamnesis and physical examination, not as pathognomonic of a specific disease entity. There are many pitfalls that could lead to erroneous interpretation of electrophysiological study results when the studies are not performed properly or if they are performed in the presence of anatomical aberrations. The diagnostic reliability of electrodiagnostic studies can be improved and the associated pitfalls overcome if the physician is familiar with all of those possible pitfalls. In this article we discuss the most common and important pitfalls associated with electrodiagnostic medicine.

show abstract

“…7 Despite its general acceptance among clinicians, only one published study has provided a quantitative analysis of the relationship between muscle spontaneous activity in cervical radiculopathies (CRs) and symptom duration. Analyzing data on 124 CRs, Dillingham et al 6 reported no correlation between symptom duration and the probability of spontaneous activity in seven proximal and distal upper limb muscles. 6 That study, however, used a retrospective design and represented the experience of patients treated at a single institution.…”

Section: Accepted 1 June 1999mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Analyzing data on 124 CRs, Dillingham et al 6 reported no correlation between symptom duration and the probability of spontaneous activity in seven proximal and distal upper limb muscles. 6 That study, however, used a retrospective design and represented the experience of patients treated at a single institution. Furthermore, no standardized screen was implemented, and only a limited number of muscles exhibited sufficient sample size and variability to be reliably included in the analysis.…”

Section: Accepted 1 June 1999mentioning

confidence: 99%

Cervical radiculopathies: Relationship between symptom duration and spontaneous EMG activity

Pezzin¹,

Dillingham²,

Lauder³

et al. 1999

Muscle Nerve

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The purpose of this multicenter study was to prospectively examine whether denervation in paraspinal muscles (PSM) and in other major proximal and distal muscles is related to symptom duration in cervical radiculopathies (CRs). Information was collected on 93 electrodiagnostically confirmed CRs using standardized history, physical examination, and electromyographic (EMG) screens. Multivariate, maximum‐likelihood estimates showed no evidence of correlation between PSM spontaneous activity and symptom duration. Symptom duration was also nonsignificant in eight of the remaining nine upper limb muscles analyzed. We conclude that the probability of spontaneous activity is not related to symptom duration. Clinicians, therefore, should refrain from interpreting electrodiagnostic findings based upon duration of symptoms. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 22: 1412–1418, 1999

show abstract

Cervical paraspinal muscle abnormalities and symptom duration: A multivariate analysis

Cited by 15 publications

References 10 publications

Comparison of clinical and electrophysiological findings in patients with suspected radiculopathies

Comparison of clinical and electrophysiological findings in patients with suspected radiculopathies

Pitfalls in Using Electrophysiological Studies to Diagnose Neuromuscular Disorders

Cervical radiculopathies: Relationship between symptom duration and spontaneous EMG activity

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About