AAEM MINIMONOGRAPH - 32 - THE ELECTRODIAGNOSTIC EXAMINATION IN PATIENTS WITH RADICULOPATHIES

The anatomy and pathophysiology of radiculopathies are reviewed, and t he electrodiagnostic approaches used in evaluating patients with suspe cted root lesions are discussed. Such electrophysiologic procedures in clude motor and sensory nerve conduction studies, late-response studie s, somatosensory and motor evoked potentials, nerve root stimulation, and needle electromyography, The value and limitations of these differ ent procedures are considered. At the present time, needle electromyog raphy is the single most useful approach. The findings in patients wit h radiculopathies at different levels are summarized.