Radiculopathy index: a proposition of uniformed clinical examination in cervical radiculopathy

Background. Radiculopathy is a common cause of upper limb dysfunction. Diagnosis of the disorder is based upon clinical examination. A new diagnostic tool - Radiculopathy Index - is described and experimentaly applied in patients with spondylosis related chronic cervical radiculopathy.
Material and methods. We examined 82 patients (62 women and 20 men) aged 25-77 (mean 54,2) with radicular symptoms lasting from 0,5 to 30 years (mean 5,77). Unilateral radiculopathy was diagnosed in 60 patients and bilateral syndrome was revealed in 22 patients. 104 affected limbs were analysed.
Results. 92,7% of pateints suffered from radicular pain. Sensation disturbances were noted in 69,5% of subjects. Muscular weakness was revealed in 73,1% and muscle wasting in 47,6% of cases. 39,4% of patients had reduced upper limb tendon reflexes. 86,6% of syndromes were unilevel and 13,4% were multilevel. Radicular level involvement prevalence: C6 - 42,4%; C7 - 24,6%; C5 - 17,8%; C8 - 13,5%
Conclusion. Radiculopathy Index is an appropriate and useful diagnostic tool in detecting level of involvement in cervical radiculopathy, particulary in chronic disease.