Radiculopathies

The spine is made of bones called vertebrae, with the spinal cord running through the spinal canal in the center. The cord is made up of nerves. These nerve roots split from the cord and travel between the vertebrae into various areas of the body. When these nerve roots become pinched or damaged, the symptoms that follow are known as radiculopathy. El Paso, TX. Chiropractor Dr. Alexander Jimenez breaks down radiculopathies, along with their causes, symptoms, and treatment.

  • A pinched nerve can occur at different areas of the spine (cervical, thoracic or lumbar).
  • Common causes are narrowing the hole where the nerve roots exit, resulting from stenosis, bone spurs, disc herniation, and other conditions.
  • Symptoms vary but often include pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling.
  • Symptoms can be managed with nonsurgical treatment, but minimal surgery can also help.

Radiculopathies

Prevalence & Pathogenesis

  • A herniated disc can be defined as herniation of the nucleus pulposus through the annulus fibrosus.
  • Most disc ruptures occur during the third and fourth decades of life while the nucleus pulposus is still gelatinous.
  • The most likely time of day associated with increased force on the disc is the morning.
  • In the lumbar region, perforations usually arise through a defect lateral to the posterior midline, where the posterior longitudinal ligament is weakest.

Epidemiology

Lumbar Spine:

  • Symptomatic lumbar disc herniation occurs during the lifetime of approximately 2% of the general population.
  • Approximately 80% of the population will experience significant back pain during the course of a herniated disc.
  • The groups at greatest risk for herniation of intervertebral discs are younger individuals (mean age of 35 years)
  • True sciatica actually develops in only 35% of patients with disc herniation.
  • Not infrequently, sciatica develops 6 to 10 years after the onset of low back pain.
  • The period of localized back pain may correspond to repeated damage to annular fibers that irritate the invertebrate nerve but do not result in disc herniation.

Epidemiology

Cervical Spine:

  • The average annual incidence of cervical radiculopathies is less than 0.1 per 1000 individuals.
  • Pure soft disc herniations are less common than hard disc abnormalities (spondylosis) as a cause of radicular arm pain.
  • In a study of 395 patients with nerve root abnormalities, radiculopathies occurred in the cervical and lumbar spine in 93 (24%) and 302 (76%), respectively.

Pathogenesis

  • Alterations in intervertebral disc biomechanics and biochemistry over time have a detrimental effect on disc function.
  • The disc is less able to work as a spacer between vertebral bodies or as a universal joint.

Pathogenesis – LUMBAR SPINE

  • The two most common levels for disc herniation are L4-L5 and L5-S1, which account for 98% of lesions; pathology can occur at L2-L3 and L3-L4 but is relatively uncommon.
    Overall, 90% of disc herniations are at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels.
  • Disc herniations at L5-S1 will usually compromise the first sacral nerve root. A lesion at the L4-L5 level will most often compress the fifth lumbar root, and herniation at L3-L4 more frequently involves the fourth lumbar root.

  • Disc herniation may also develop in older patients.
  • Disc tissue that causes compression in elderly patients is composed of the annulus fibrosus and portions of the cartilaginous endplate (hard disc.)
    The cartilage is avulsed from the vertebral body.
  • Resolution of some of the compressive effects on neural structures requires resorption of the nucleus pulposus.

  • Disc resorption is part of the natural healing process associated with disc herniation.
  • The enhanced ability to resorb discs has the potential for resolving clinical symptoms more rapidly.
  • Resorption of herniated disc material is associated with a marked increase in infiltrating macrophages and the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 3 and 7.
  • Nerlich and associates identified the origins of phagocytic cells in degenerated intervertebral discs.
  • The investigation identified cells that are transformed local cells rather than invaded macrophages.
  • Degenerative discs contain the cells that add to their continued dissolution.

Pathogenesis – CERVICAL SPINE

  • In the early 1940s, several reports appeared in which cervical intervertebral disc herniation with radiculopathies was described.
  • There is a direct correlation between the anatomy of the cervical spine and the location and pathophysiology of disc lesions.

  • The eight cervical nerve roots exit via intervertebral foramina bordered anteromedially by the intervertebral disc and posterolaterally by the zygapophyseal joint.
  • The foramina are largest at C2-C3 and decrease in size until C6-C7.
  • The nerve root occupies 25% to 33% of the volume of the foramen.
  • The C1 root exits between the occiput and the atlas (C1)
  • All lower roots exit above their corresponding cervical vertebrae (the C6 root at the C5-C6 interspace), except C8, which exits between C7 and T1.
  • A differential growth rate affects the relationship between the spinal cord and nerve roots and the cervical spine.

  • Most acute disc herniations occur posterolaterally and in patients around the fourth decade of life when the nucleus is still gelatinous.
  • The most common areas of disc herniations are C6-C7 and C5-C6.
  • C7-T1 and C3-C4 disc herniations are infrequent ( less than 15 %).
  • Disc herniation of C2-C3 is rare.
  • Patients with upper cervical disc protrusions in the C2-C3 region have symptoms that include suboccipital pain, loss of hand dexterity, and paresthesias over the face and unilateral arm.
  • Unlike lumbar herniated discs, cervical herniated discs may cause myelopathy in addition to radicular pain because of the anatomy of the spinal cord in the cervical region.
  • The uncovertebral prominences play a role in the location of ruptured discs material.
  • The uncovertebral joint tends to guide extruded disc material medially, where cord compression may also occur.

  • Disc herniations usually affect the nerve root numbered most caudally for the given disc level; for example, the C3 – C4 disc affects the fourth cervical nerve root; C4- C5, the fifth cervical nerve root; C5 – C6, the sixth cervical nerve root; C6 – C7, the seventh cervical nerve root; and C7 – T1, the eighth cervical nerve root.

  • Not every herniated disc is symptomatic.
  • The development of symptoms depends on the reserve capacity of the spinal canal, the presence of inflammation, the size of the herniation, and the presence of concomitant disease such as osteophyte formation.
  • In disc rupture, protrusion of nuclear material results in tension on the annular fibers and compresses the dura or nerve root, causing pain.
  • Also important is the smaller size of the sagittal diameter, the bony cervical spinal canal.
  • Individuals in whom a cervical herniated disc causes motor dysfunction to have a complication of cervical disc herniation if the spinal canal is stenotic.

Clinical History – LUMBAR SPINE

  • Clinically, the patient’s major complaint is a sharp, lancinating pain.
  • In many cases, there may be a previous history of intermittent episodes of localized low back pain.
  • The pain not only in the back but also radiates down the leg in the anatomic distribution of the affected nerve root.
  • It will usually be described as deep and sharp and progressing from above downward in the involved leg.
  • Its onset may be insidious or sudden and associated with tearing or snapping sensations of the spine.
  • Occasionally, when sciatica develops, the back pain may resolve because once the annulus has ruptured, it may no longer be under tension.
  • Disc herniation occurs with sudden physical effort when the trunk is flexed or rotated.
  • On occasion, patients with L4-L5 disc herniation have groin pain. In a study of 512 lumbar disc patients, 4.1% had groin pain.
  • Finally, sciatica may vary in intensity; it may be so severe that patients will be unable to ambulate, and they will feel that their back is “locked.”
  • On the other hand, the pain may be limited to a dull ache that increases in intensity with ambulation.
  • Pain is worsened in the flexed position and relieved by extension of the lumbar spine.
  • Characteristically, patients with herniated discs have increased pain with sitting, driving, walking, couching, sneezing, or straining.

Clinical History – CERVICAL SPINE

  • Arm pain, not neck pain, is the patient’s major complaint.
  • The pain is often perceived as starting in the neck area and then radiating from this point down to the shoulder, arm, and forearm and usually into the hand.
  • The onset of radicular pain is often gradual, although it can suddenly occur in association with a tearing or snapping sensation.
  • As time passes, the magnitude of the arm pain clearly exceeds that of the neck or shoulder pain.
  • The arm pain may also be variable in intensity and preclude any use of the arm; it may range from severe pain to a dull, cramping ache in the arm muscles.
  • The pain is usually severe enough to awaken the patient at night.
  • Additionally, a patient may complain of associated headaches and muscle spasms, which can radiate from the cervical spine to below the scapulae.
  • The pain may also radiate to the chest and mimic angina (pseudo angina) or breast.
  • Symptoms such as back pain, leg pain, leg weakness, gait disturbance, or incontinence suggest compression of the spinal cord (Myelopathy).

Physical Examination – LUMBAR SPINE

  • A physical examination will demonstrate a decrease in the range of motion of the lumbosacral spine, and patients may list to one side as they try to bend forward.
  • The side of the disc herniation typically corresponds to the location of the scoliotic list.
  • However, the specific level or degree of the herniation does not correlate with the degree of the list.
  • On ambulation, patients walk with an antalgic gait in which they hold the involved leg flexed so that they put as little weight as possible on the extremity.
  • Neurologic Examination:
  • The neurologic examination is critical and may yield objective evidence of nerve root compression (We should evaluate reflex testing, muscle power, and sensation examination of the patient).
  • In addition, a nerve deficit may have little temporal relevance because it may be related to a previous attack at a different level.
  • Compression of individual spinal nerve roots results in alterations in motor, sensory, and reflex function.
  • When the first sacral root is compressed, the patient may have gastrocnemius-soleus weakness and be unable to repeatedly raise on the toes of that foot.
  • Atrophy of the calf may be apparent, and the ankle (Achilles) reflex is often diminished or absent.
  • Sensory loss, if present, is usually confined to the posterior aspect of the calf and the lateral side of the foot.

  • Involvement of the fifth lumbar nerve root can lead to weakness in extension of the great toe and, in a few cases, weakness of the everters and dorsiflexors of the foot.
  • A sensory deficit can appear over the anterior of the leg and the dorsomedial aspect of the foot down to the big toe.

  • With compression of the fourth lumbar nerve root, the quadriceps muscle is affected; the patient may note weakness in knee extension, often associated with instability.
  • Atrophy of the thigh musculature can be marked. Sensory loss may be apparent over the anteromedial aspect of the thigh, and the patellar tendon reflex can be diminished.

  • Nerve root sensitivity can be elicited by any method that creates tension.
  • The straight leg-raising (SLR)test is the most commonly used.
  • This test is performed with the patient supine.

Physical Examination – CERVICAL SPINE

Neurologic Examination:
  • A neurologic examination that shows abnormalities is the most helpful aspect of the diagnostic work-up, although the examination may remain normal despite a chronic radicular pattern.
  • The presence of atrophy helps document the location of the lesion, as well as its chronicity.
  • The presence of subjective sensory changes is often difficult to interpret and requires a coherent and cooperative patient to be of clinical value.

  • When the third cervical root is compressed, no reflex change and motor weakness can be identified.
  • The pain radiates to the back of the neck and toward the mastoid process and pinna of the ear.
  • Involvement of the fourth cervical nerve root leads to no readily detectable reflex changes or motor weakness.
  • The pain radiates to the back of the neck and the superior aspect of the scapula.
  • Occasionally, the pain radiates to the anterior chest wall.
  • The pain is often exacerbated by neck extension.
  • Unlike the third and the fourth cervical nerve roots, the fifth through eighth cervical nerve roots have motor functions.
  • Compression of the fifth cervical nerve root is characterized by weakness of shoulder abduction, usually above 90 degrees, and weakness of shoulder extension.
  • The biceps reflexes are often depressed, and the pain radiates from the side of the neck to the top of the shoulder.
  • Decreased sensation is often noted in the lateral aspect of the deltoid, which represents the autonomous area of the axillary nerve.

  • Involvement of the sixth cervical nerve root produces biceps muscles weakness as well as diminished brachioradialis reflex.
  • The pain again radiates from the neck down the lateral aspect of the arm and forearm to the radial side of the hand (index finger, long finger, and thumb).
  • Numbness occasionally occurs in the tip of the index finger, the autonomous area of the sixth cervical nerve root.

  • Compression of the seventh cervical nerve root produces reflex changes in the triceps jerk test with associated loss of strength in the triceps muscles, which extend the elbow.
  • The pain from this lesion radiates from the lateral aspect of the neck down the middle of the area to the middle finger.
  • Sensory changes often occur in the tip of the middle finger, the autonomous area for the seventh nerve.
  • Patients should also be tested for scapular winging, which may occur with C6 or C7 radiculopathies.

  • Finally, involvement of the eighth cervical nerve root by a herniated C7-T1 disc produces significant weakness of the intrinsic musculature of the hand.
  • Such involvement can lead to rapid atrophy of the interosseous muscles because of the small size of these muscles.
  • Loss of the interossei leads to a significant loss of fine hand motion.
  • No reflexes are easily found, although the flexor carpi ulnaris reflex may be decreased.
  • The radicular pain from the eighth cervical nerve root radiates to the ulnar border of the hand and the ring and little fingers.
  • The tip of the little finger often demonstrates diminished sensation.

  • Radicular pain secondary to a herniated cervical disc may be relieved by the abduction of the affected arm.
  • Although these signs are helpful when present, their absence alone does not rule out a nerve root lesion.

Laboratory Data

  • Medical screening laboratory tests (blood counts, chemistry panels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR]) are normal in patients with a herniated disc.
  • Electrodiagnostic Testing
  • Electromyography(EMG)is an electronic extension of the physical examination.
  • The primary use of EMG is to diagnose radiculopathies in cases of questionable neurologic origin.
  • EMG findings may be positive in patients with nerve root impingement.

Radiographic Evaluation – LUMBAR SPINE

  • Plain x-rays may be entirely normal in a patient with signs and symptoms of nerve root impingement.
  • Computed Tomography
  • Radiographic evaluation by CT scan may demonstrate disc bulging but may not correlate with the level of nerve damage.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • MR imaging also allows visualization of soft tissues, including discs in the lumbar spine.
  • Herniated discs are easily detected with MR evaluation.
  • MR imaging is a sensitive technique for the detection of far lateral and anterior disc herniations.

Radiographic Evaluation – CERVICAL SPINE

  • X-rays
  • Plain x-rays may be entirely normal in patients with an acute herniated cervical disc.
  • Conversely, 70% of asymptomatic women and 95% of asymptomatic men between the ages of 60 and 65 have evidence of degenerative disc disease on plain roentgenograms.
  • Views to be obtained include anteroposterior, lateral, flexion, and extension.

  • Computed Tomography
  • CT permits direct visualization of compression of neural structures and is, therefore, more precise than myelography.
  • Advantages of CT over myelography include better visualization of lateral abnormalities such as foraminal stenosis and abnormalities caudal to the myelographic block, less radiation exposure, and no hospitalization.
  • Magnetic Resonance
  • MRI allows excellent visualization of soft tissues, including herniated discs in the cervical spine.
  • The test is noninvasive.
  • In a study of 34 patients with cervical lesions, MRI predicted 88% of the surgically proven lesions versus 81% for myelography-CT, 58% for myelography, and 50% for CT alone.

Differential Diagnosis – LUMBAR SPINE

  • The initial diagnosis of a herniated disc is ordinarily made based on the history and physical examination.
  • Plain radiographs of the lumbosacral spine will rarely add to the diagnosis but should be obtained to help rule out other causes of pain such as infection or tumor.
  • Other tests such as MR, CT, and myelography are confirmatory by nature and can be misleading when used as screening tests.

Spinal Stenosis

  • Patients with spinal stenosis may also suffer from back pain that radiates to the lower extremities.
  • Patients with spinal stenosis tend to be older than those in whom herniated discs develop.
  • Characteristically, patients with spinal stenosis experience lower extremity pain (pseudoclaudication=neurogenic claudication) after walking for an unspecified distance.
  • They also complain of pain that is exacerbated by standing or extending the spine.
  • Radiographic evaluation is usually helpful in differentiating individuals with disc herniation from those with bony hypertrophy associated with spinal stenosis.
  • In a study of 1,293 patients, lateral spinal stenosis and herniated intervertebral discs coexisted in 17.7% of individuals.
  • Radicular pain may be caused by more than one pathologic process in an individual.

Facet Syndrome

  • Facet syndrome is another cause of low back pain associated with radiation of pain to structures outside the confines of the lumbosacral spine.
  • Degeneration of articular structures in the facet joint causes pain to develop.
  • In most circumstances, the pain is localized over the affected joint area and is aggravated by extension of the spine (standing).
  • A deep, ill-defined, aching discomfort may also be noted in the sacroiliac joint, the buttocks, and the legs.
  • The areas of sclerotome affected show the same embryonic origin as the degenerated facet joints.
  • Patients with pain secondary to facet joint disease may relieve symptoms with the apophyseal injection of a long-acting local anesthetic.
  • The true role of facet joint disease in back and leg pain production remains to be determined.
  • Other mechanical causes of sciatica include congenital abnormalities of the lumbar nerve roots, external compression of the sciatic nerve (wallet in a back pants pocket), and muscular compression (piriformis syndrome).
  • In rare circumstances, the cervical or thoracic lesion should be considered if the lumbar spine is clear of abnormalities.
  • Medical causes of sciatica (neural tumors or infections, for example) are usually associated with systemic symptoms in addition to nerve pain in a sciatic distribution.

Differential Diagnosis – CERVICAL SPINE

  • No diagnostic criteria exist for the clinical diagnosis of a herniated cervical disc.
  • The history and physical examination make the provisional diagnosis of a herniated cervical disc.
  • The plain x-ray is usually nondiagnostic, although occasionally, disc space narrowing at the suspected interspace or foraminal narrowing on oblique films is seen.
  • The value of x-rays is to exclude other causes of neck and arm pain, such as infection and tumor.
  • MR imaging and CT-myelography are the best confirmatory examinations for disc herniation.
  • Cervical disc herniations may affect structures other than nerve roots.
  • Disc herniation may cause vessel compression (vertebral artery) associated with vertebrobasilar artery insufficiency and be manifested as blurred vision and dizziness.

  • Other mechanical causes of arm pain should be excluded.
  • The most common is some form of compression on a peripheral nerve.
  • Such compression can occur at the elbow, forearm, or wrist. An example is compression of the median nerve by the carpal ligament leading to carpal tunnel syndrome.
  • The best diagnostic test to rule out these peripheral neuropathies is EMG.
  • Excessive traction on the arm secondary to heavyweights may cause radicular pain without disc compression of nerve roots.
  • Spinal cord abnormalities must be considered if signs of myelopathy are present in conjunction with radiculopathies.
  • MRI identifies spinal cord lesions such as syringomyelia, and EMG identifies motor neuron disease.
  • Multiple sclerosis should be considered in a patient with radiculopathies if the physical signs indicate lesions above the foramen magnum (optic neuritis).
  • In infrequent circumstances, lesions of the parietal lobe corresponding to the arm can mimic the findings of cervical radiculopathies.

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