Summary
Segmental electrodiagnosis of compression of individual nerve roots of the cauda equina has been attempted in 45 patients, including cases of disc hernia, spondylosis and spondylolisthesis. The needle electrode was inserted into the nerve root either just lateral to the intervertebral foramen or through the posterior sacral foramen. The recordings made on stimulating a single nerve root were somatosensory evoked potential, the cauda equina action potential and the M and H waves. Mixed spinal nerve root action potentials were also recorded by stimulating the sciatic, peroneal and tibial nerves. It was shown that a diagnosis could be made from the somatosensory evoked potential, the H wave and root pain reproduction, and also the diagnosis of a subclinical compression involvement.
In other words, the neurophysiological state of dysfunction of individual roots in each aspect of compression can be expressed.
Résumé
L'électrodiagnostic segmentaire de la compression des racines de la queue de cheval a été tenté chez 45 malades, comprenant des cas de hernie discale, de spondylarthrite et de spondylolisthésis. L'électrode est insérée dans la racine soit en dehors du trou de conjugaison, soit à travers le canal sacré postérieur. Les enregistrements consécutifs à la stimulation d'une seule racine sont le potentiel évoqué somatosensoriel, le potentiel d'action de la queue de cheval et les ondes M et H. Des potentiels d'action mixtes des racines nerveuses de la moelle sont également enregistrés en stimulant les nerfs sciatique, sciatique poplité externe et interne. On en déduit qu'un diagnostic est possible à partir du potentiel évoqué somatosensoriel de l'onde H et de la reproduction de douleur radiculaire et qu'ainsi peut être reconnue une compression infra-clinique.
Autrement dit, l'état neurophysiologique du dysfonctionnement de chacune des racines dans chaque aspect d'une compression peut être exprimeé.
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Matsuda, H., Hirose, T., Hasimoto, T. et al. Electrodiagnosis of compression of individual nerve roots of the cauda equina. International Orthopaedics 3, 121–131 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00266881
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00266881