Dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials (DSEPs) and computerized tomography/magnetic resonance (CT and/or MR) images were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate their relationship in the diagnosis of lumbosacral spinal stenosis (SS). Of 155 patients referred for DSEPs with a clinical suspicion of lumbosacral SS, 58 met the inclusion criteria. DSEP abnormality was defined as: (1) N1 latency absent or greater than 2.5 SD; (2) side-to-side latency difference greater than 2 SD; (3) amplitudes greater than 2 SD below the mean; or (4) amplitude ratio greater than 2 SD. Involvement of two or more DSEP levels by any of the above criteria was labeled multiple root disease (MRD). Involvement of one level was labeled single root disease (SRD). Images were reviewed independently by a neuroradiologist. Results revealed 54 subjects with SS by imaging; 42 had MRD and 8 had SRD by DSEPs. Sensitivity for MRD and SS was 78%, and for MRD plus SRD and SS was 93%.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.