Comparison of magnetic coil and needle-electrical stimulation in diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathy

PubMed ID: 8196715[No abstract available

Comparison of magnetic coil stimulation and needle electrical stimulation in the diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathy

PubMed ID: 7924074Electrical stimulation (ES) of lumbosacral nerve roots using a needle electrode inserted to the laminar level at the midline of Th12-L1 or L1-2 intervertebral interspace, was compared with magnetic stimulation using a 9-cm diameter coil (MGS) at the L3-4 or L4-5 spine levels, Compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) were superficially recorded from homologous muscles in both sides in 15 normal control subjects and in 20 patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy. Soleus muscles were used for S1, tibialis anterior (TA) for L5, and rectus femoris (RF) muscles for L4 roots. According to the clinical or radiological diagnosis (CAT, MRI and/or myelography) conventional needle EMG was capable to localise the root lesion in 16 of 20 patients (80%) and ES localised the root involvement in 18 of 20 patients (90%); the diagnostic value of MCS was lower, about 65% (13 of 20 patients). Although ES is uncomfortable and invasive, it is superior to needle EMG in localising unilateral or multiple lumbosacral root involvement. At present, MCS is not suitable for the diagnosis of lumbar radiculopathy. © 1994

Economic Impact of Primary Headaches in Turkey: A University Hospital Based Study: Part Ii

This study was planned to investigate the economic impact of headache on Turkish headache sufferers attending a tertiary care outpatient headache clinic., A total of 937 headache patients were included in this study and questioned using a questionnaire for the profile of patients and headache, quality of life of patients and economic impact of headache. The median total direct cost was found to be 88.0 USD and the median total cost was 160.7 USD. The drug treatment cost was the highest item followed by the specialist outpatient care cost. The average lost and inefficient work/school days was 1.5 (0–45) and 8.4 (0–100) days for one year., It was shown that loss of productivity was higher for migraine without aura group when compared with the episodic and chronic tension–type headache groups. The results of this nationwide university hospital based study methshowed that headache, especially migraine, has considerable economic impact on patients.PubMedScopu