Turkish Neurosurgery 1994 , Vol 4 , Num 1
DERMATOMALLY STIMULATED SOMATOSENSORY EVOKED POTENTIALS IN LUMBAR DISC HERNIATION
Suat TOPAKTAŞ1, H. Zafer KARS2, Şefik DENER1, Aytekin AKYÜZ1, Nesrin KENİS1
1Department of Neurology, Cumhuriyet University Medical School Sivas Türkiye
2Department of Neurosurgery, Cumhuriyet University Medical School Sivas Türkiye
Diagnostic potential of dermatomally stimulated somatosensory evoked potentials (DSSEP) in radiculopathy due to lumbar disc herniation is investigated. Normative data were estimated by statistical analysis of the values obtained by bilateral stimulation of the L4, L5 and S1 dermatomes of 28 healthy volunteers. Latency values beyond 99 % confidence limit, interside differences in latencies more than three standard deviations, and an absent potential were considered abnormal. Preoperative DSSEP studies in 15 patients with unilateral radiculopathies due to lumbar disc herniation correctly diagnosed 16 affected roots out of 18 which were subsequently verified by surgery. DSSEP is a reliable diagnostic technique in unilateral radiculopathy due to lumbar disc herniation. Keywords : Evoked potentials, somatosensory: intervertebral disc displacement
Corresponding author : Suat Topaktaş