P13-24 Diagnostic value of electromyography in evaluation of neural injury in lumbosacral radiculopathies

Abstract

Methods: This is a prospective interventional study. Consent was taken as protocol. Patients referred for myopathy were included and those with diabetes mellitus and age more than 50 years were excluded from the study. Nerve conduction studies and needle exam (concentric needle) performed according to AANEM criteria for myopathy, in addition cervical paraspinal muscles were assessed and patients were encouraged making neck muscles tense for motor unit assessment. Findings were confirmed from qualified neurophysiologist. For data interpretation SPSS version 16 used, results expressed in percentages. Results: Total 78 patients, 51 females and 27 males were included in the study. Inflammatory myopathic findings noted in 60 (76.92%) and noninflammatory in 18 (23.08%). In inflammatory myopathy group 13 (21.66%) showed fibrillation and positive sharp waves in paraspinal muscles but negative in limbs. Among inflammatory myopathy 9 (15%) and in noninflammatory 3 (16.6%) showed myopathic motor units in paraspinal muscles and not in limb muscles. Conclusion: Paraspinal muscle electromyographic assessment is statistically helpful for further evaluation of myopathic disorders particularly if limb muscle electrography does not show fibrillation potentials, positive sharp waves and myopathic motor units or inconclusive findings. Further muscle biopsy is needed to correlate paraspinal muscle predilection or its early involvement in the disease process.