American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation
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Am J Phys Med Rehabil · Oct 2008
Clinical TrialMagnetic resonance imaging vs. electrodiagnostic root compromise in lumbar spinal stenosis: a masked controlled study.
The high false-positive rate of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) makes it a less-than-reliable tool for evaluating clinically significant stenosis. Finding MRI changes that correlate with electrodiagnostic abnormalities might lead to more successful treatment decision making. The purpose of this study was to identify MRI changes that correlate with neurologic abnormalities measured by electrodiagnosis in patients with spinal stenosis. ⋯ Needle electromyography does not differentiate patients with symptomatic mild or moderate lumbar stenosis. However, H-wave and F-wave correlated to specific anatomical changes on MRI in this patient population.