Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2002 , Vol 48 , Num 3

Servikal Radikülopatide Fleksör Karpi Radiyalis Hoffmann (H) Refleksinin Tanısal Değeri

Gülseren Akyüz 1 ,Önder Us 2 ,B. Tonyalı 3
1 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
2 Marmara Üniversitesi Hastanesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, Istanbul, Türkiye
3 Pendik Devlet Hastanesi, Küçükyalı Semt Polikliniği, İstanbu

Electrophysiological studies and imaging modalities are  frequently used in the evaluation of cervical radiculopathy. The aim of our study was to investigate diagnostic value of Hoffmann (H) reflex obtained from flexor carpi radialis muscle in the evaluation of cervical radiculopathy. Fourtyeight healty cases and 32 patients with unilateral clinical symptoms and signs of cervical radiculopathy were included in this study. Motor and sensory nerve conduction studies, F wave, H reflex testing from flexor carpi radialis muscle were studied in all cases. In addition, needle EMG was performed in the patient group. After electrophysiological studies, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in all patients to investigate presence of radiculopathy. Hoffmann reflex latency differences between two sides were determined in two groups. The results more than two standart deviation from the control group mean value were considered abnormal. In 20 (%62,5) of 32 patients, H reflex results were found abnormal. Hoffmann reflex latencies were found longer in 17 patients and could not obtained in 3 patients on the symptomatic side. Needle EMG findings of root compression  were seen in 21 patients (%65,6). In 25 (%78,1) out of 32 patients had  root compression caused by a disc or by encroachment of the foramina on MRI scans. In statistical analysis, no significant difference was found between H reflex testing and MRI results. Our results indicate that flexor carpi radialis H reflex testing is a useful and valid method in the diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy.

Keywords : Cervical radiculopathy, H reflex, flexor carpi radialis