Author/Authors :
Ghasemi, Majid Departments of Neurology, 1Neurolsurgery, Isfahan Neuroscience Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan , Golabchi, Khodayar Departments of Neurology, 1Neurolsurgery, Isfahan Neuroscience Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan , Mousavi, Ali Departments of Neurology, 1Neurolsurgery, Isfahan Neuroscience Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan , Asadi, Bahador Departments of Neurology, 1Neurolsurgery, Isfahan Neuroscience Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan , Rezvani, Majid Departments of Neurology, 1Neurolsurgery, Isfahan Neuroscience Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan , Shaygannejad, Vahid Departments of Neurology, 1Neurolsurgery, Isfahan Neuroscience Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan , Salari, Mehri Departments of Neurology, 1Neurolsurgery, Isfahan Neuroscience Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan
Abstract :
This study was aimed at assessing the accuracy of provocative tests in diagnosis of acute or chronic Cervical
Radiculopathy (CR) based on an electrodiagnostic reference criterion. Materials and Methods: Shoulder Abduction Test (SAT),
Spurling Test (ST), Upper Limb Tension Test (ULTT), and electromyography were done on 97 patients who referred to Electrodiagnostic
center in the university hospital from January 2010 to March 2011. All of the participants had neck and radicular pain for at least
3 weeks. They were classified according to electrodiagnostic findings. Then diagnostic values of provocative tests were assessed in
diagnosis of acute or chronic CR on the basis of reference criterion. Results: SAT and ST were more specific (85%) compared to
ULTT, while ULTT was more sensitive (60.46% in acute and 35.29% in chronic) than the other two. SAT and ST had a significant
accuracy for comparison between acute and chronic CR (P < 0.05). Conclusion: ULTT is suitable for screening of CR, while SAT
and ST can support diagnosis. SAT and ST are good diagnostic tests for comparison between acute and chronic CR.
Keywords :
Cervical radiculopathy , electrodiagnostic study , shoulder abduction test , spurling test , upper limb tension test
