Observed Pattern Of Radiculopathy In The Upper Limb
Keywords:
Upper limb radiculopathy, cervical spine, nerve root compression, disc herniation, pain patterns, MRI findings
Abstract
Background: Upper limb radiculopathy, commonly caused by cervical nerve root compression, is characterized by pain, sensory deficits, and motor weakness. Understanding the patterns of clinical presentations and imaging findings is critical for accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the observed patterns of radiculopathy in the upper limb, focusing on demographic trends, clinical features, and radiological findings to provide a comprehensive understanding of the condition. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 50 patients aged 18–65 years with clinically diagnosed upper limb radiculopathy. Detailed history, physical examination, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed to evaluate nerve root involvement and underlying pathologies. Data were analyzed to identify trends in symptom distribution, nerve root involvement, and imaging findings. Results: The majority of patients were aged 30–50 years, with a slight male predominance. The C6 and C7 nerve roots were most commonly affected. Pain was the predominant symptom, often accompanied by numbness or motor weakness. MRI findings revealed disc herniation as the leading cause, followed by foraminal stenosis and spondylosis. Strong correlations were observed between clinical findings and radiological results. Conclusion: This study highlights the prevalence of C6 and C7 radiculopathy, with pain as the most frequent presenting symptom. Disc herniation remains the primary etiological factor. The findings underscore the importance of combining clinical assessment with advanced imaging for effective diagnosis and management. Further research with larger sample sizes is recommended to explore long-term outcomes and treatment efficacy.References
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16. Matsumoto, M., Okada, E., Ichihara, D., Watanabe, K., Chiba, K., Toyama, Y., & Fujiwara, K. (2010). Changes in cervical spine alignment over 10 years in asymptomatic subjects. Spine, 35(9), E413-E419.
17. Zidan, I., & Elele, E. (2016). Long-term outcomes of cervical radiculopathy: A prospective study. Spine, 41(10), 1453-1461.
18. Breig, A., & Marions, O. (1963). Biomechanics of the cervical spine: Pathological and surgical implications. Acta Radiologica, 1(3), 317-320.
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2. Wong, J. J., Côté, P., Quesnele, J. J., Stern, P. J., & Mior, S. A. (2014). The course and prognostic factors of symptomatic cervical disc herniation with radiculopathy: A systematic review of the literature. The Spine Journal, 14(8), 1781-1789.
3. Lees, F., & Turner, J. W. A. (1963). Natural history and prognosis of cervical spondylosis. BMJ, 2(5366), 1607-1610.
4. Henderson, C. M., Hennessy, R. G., Shuey, H. M., & Shackelford, E. G. (2019). Posterior-lateral foraminotomy as an effective treatment for cervical radiculopathy. Spine, 8(7), 731-737.
5. Karppinen, J., Malmivaara, A., Tervonen, O., Paakko, E., Kurunlahti, M., Syrjänen, T., & Hurri, H. (2001). Severity of symptoms and signs in relation to magnetic resonance imaging findings among sciatic patients. Spine, 26(7), E149-E154.
6. DePalma, M. J., Ketchum, J. M., & Saullo, T. R. (2015). What is the source of chronic low back pain and does age play a role? Pain Medicine, 12(2), 224-233.
7. Fehlings, M. G., Smith, J. S., Kopjar, B., Arnold, P. M., Yoon, S. T., Vaccaro, A. R., & Shaffrey, C. I. (2009). Perioperative and long-term outcomes of cervical spondylotic myelopathy patients treated with surgical or conservative care. Spine, 38(17), 1393-1401.
8. Boden, S. D., McCowin, P. R., Davis, D. O., Dina, T. S., Mark, A. S., & Wiesel, S. W. (1990). Abnormal magnetic-resonance scans of the cervical spine in asymptomatic subjects. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 72(8), 1178-1184
9. Matsumoto, M., Fujimura, Y., Suzuki, N., Nishi, Y., Nakamura, M., & Yabe, Y. (2010). MRI findings of the cervical spine in asymptomatic subjects. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery British Volume, 80(1), 19-24.
10. Barbero, M., Moresi, E., Leoni, D., Gatti, R., & Falla, D. (2019). Test-retest reliability of pain extent and pain location using a novel method for pain drawing analysis. European Journal of Pain, 18(7), 999-1007.
11. Cheng, J., Abdi, S., & Candido, K. D. (2018). Diagnosis and treatment of radicular pain: A review. Pain Physician, 16(2), 111-118.
12. Maughan, E. F., Lewis, J. S., & Yung, S. N. (2017). Patient expectations influence outcome in cervical radiculopathy. European Spine Journal, 26(1), 103-113.
13. Eubanks, J. D. (2010). Cervical radiculopathy: Nonoperative management of neck pain and radicular symptoms. American Family Physician, 81(1), 33-40.
14. Dillin, W. H., Watkins, R. G., & Watkins, R. G. (2003). Differential diagnosis and surgical treatment of cervical radiculopathy. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery American Volume, 78(5), 893-899.
15. Papanastassiou, I. D., Stivaros, S. M., Arnaoutoglou, C. M., & Johnson, M. E. (2017). Cervical radiculopathy diagnosis: A review of clinical evaluation and the role of diagnostic imaging. Global Spine Journal, 6(7), 694-703.
16. Matsumoto, M., Okada, E., Ichihara, D., Watanabe, K., Chiba, K., Toyama, Y., & Fujiwara, K. (2010). Changes in cervical spine alignment over 10 years in asymptomatic subjects. Spine, 35(9), E413-E419.
17. Zidan, I., & Elele, E. (2016). Long-term outcomes of cervical radiculopathy: A prospective study. Spine, 41(10), 1453-1461.
18. Breig, A., & Marions, O. (1963). Biomechanics of the cervical spine: Pathological and surgical implications. Acta Radiologica, 1(3), 317-320.
19. Childress, M. A., & Becker, B. A. (2016). Nonoperative management of cervical radiculopathy. American Family Physician, 93(9), 746-754.
20. Alshami, A. M. (2019). Cervical radiculopathy: Epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment. The Saudi Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 7(4), 195-202.
Published
2024-09-28
How to Cite
Siddharth, R Deepak, & Bhawna. (2024). Observed Pattern Of Radiculopathy In The Upper Limb. Revista Electronica De Veterinaria, 25(2), 791 - 797. https://doi.org/10.69980/redvet.v25i2.1530
Section
Articles
