[Electromyographic diagnosis of root disorders and localization of lumbar disk herniations]

Electromyographic examination of the quadriceps muscle of the thigh, the anterior tibial muscle, the long peroneal muscle, and the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle was conducted in 80 patients with lumbar osteochondrosis. Electromyographic signs of abnormalities were detected in 66 (97.1%) of 68 patients with radicular disorders caused by Schmorl's body. According to the results of electromyography, the localization of Schmorl's body was determined correctly in relation to the length of the spleen in 90.6% of cases and in relation to the diameter of the intervertebral disk in 71.9%. A cicatricialadhesive process and medial Schmorl's body were characterized by signs of the involvement of several roots, whereas nonradicular reflex-pain syndromes were marked by a normal electromyographic pattern.