Abstract

Background: Nerve conduction velocity is a simple, non-invasive, and common utilized in elevation of cervical root compression. Current research proved that some F-wave parameters can support the diagnosis of radiculopathy diseases. The study aimed to evaluate symptoms, F-waves of upper extremity nerves in patients with cervical radiculopathy and the relationship between F waves of upper extremity nerves and the level of nerve root compression on magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Methods: A cross-sectional study included 16 controls and 47 patients who had cervical root compression in MRI. All of them were studied nerve conduction velocity of the upper extremity peripheral nerves at the Electrodiagnosis room of Functional Exploration Department in Hue University Hospital from June 2022 to May 2023.

Results: Most common symptoms: pain, positive Spurling’s test and reflex, motor abnormalities. Five indices including F-wave minimal latency, F-wave maximal latency, F-wave mean latency, F dispersion, F persistence in low cervical radiculopathy patients (24 men and 23 women with mean ages: 53.34 ± 10.52) differed from those in controls (7 men and 9 women with mean ages: 50.50 ± 16.50). When compared with MRI images, only F-wave mean latency were related to the level of nerve root compression (p<0.1).

Conclusions: Nerve conduction velocity parameters, especially F-wave indexes can be utilized in supporting the diagnosis of low cervical radiculopathy, while motor and sensory nerve conduction have not changed yet.