J Korean Neurol Assoc.  1995 Sep;13(3):519-527.

Segmental and Dermatomal Somatosensory Evoked Potentials in Lumbosacral Radiculopathy

• Shon SI
• Lim JG
• Lee SD
• Park YC

Abstract

This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials(D-SSEP) and segrnental somatosensory evoked potentials(S-SSEP) for the diagnosis of lurnbosacral radiculopathy. D-SSEP and S-SSEP were recorded from 30 healthy controls and 16 patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy(LA radiculopathy: 10 cases, L5: 13 cases, SI: 4 cases) who was diagnosed by clinical findings CT and/or MRI. D-SSEP were abnormal in 40%, 30.7% and 25% of the patients with IA, L5 and Sl radiculopathy respectively and S-SSEP were abnormal in 20%, 38% and 50% of the patients with IA, L5 and Sl radiculopathy respectively. The proportion of abnormal findings in the' patients with L4, L5 and Sl radiculopathy was increased to 50%, 46. 1% and 50% respectively by administering both of D-SSEP and S-SSEP. In conclusion, D-SSEP and S-SSEP are simple and noninvasive test but insensitive studies for diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathy. The diagnostic sensitivity could be increased by usmg both of these two studies.

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis
Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory*
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Radiculopathy*