BACKGROUND: The precise localization of painful structures in the spine of @entity1 with @entity1643 and/or @entity158 radiating ( @entity5752 /RP) to the lower extremities is important for targeted therapeutic intervention. The aim of the study reported here was to determine and compare the spinal segment(s) where @entity158 was elicited via endoscopic evaluation vs. the vertebral level from where the @entity158 was thought to originate as determined by clinical evaluation and by MRI. METHODS: Observational cohort study of 143 @entity1 19 to 88 years of age undergoing spinal canal endoscopy (epiduroscopy) in a combined academic and private practice setting January 2008 to December 2008. @entity1 were asked whether @entity158 generated by pressure upon epidural structures with the tip of an endoscope was similar in character and distribution (concordant) to the @entity158 for which @entity1 sought treatment. Notes from clinical evaluation and MRI reports were reviewed, and segmental level determined to be the locus of pathology was tabulated. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-five (87%) @entity1 reported maximal reproducible @entity158 at a specific level during epiduroscopy. The most common level was at L4 to L5 (87 @entity1 ). The least common level was L5 to S1 (2 @entity1 ). In only 40 @entity1 did the level determined by clinical evaluation correlate with the level at which @entity158 could be reproduced during epiduroscopy. MRI indicated a specific vertebral level that corresponded to the level at which @entity158 could be reproduced during epiduroscopy in 28 of 143 (20%) @entity1 . The results of the 3 diagnostic methods were significantly different (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Results of this study indicate that epiduroscopy is more reliable than is either clinical evaluation or MRI for determining the vertebral level where clinically significant spinal pathology occurs in @entity1 with @entity5752 /RP.

Diagnosis of the vertebral level from which low back or leg XXXX originates. A comparison of clinical evaluation, MRI and epiduroscopy.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity5752 :: ('3929', 'Gene') :: ['LBP'] @entity1643 :: ('MESH:D017116', 'Disease') :: ['low back pain'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['pain']
@entity158 :: (MESH:D010146,Disease) :: ['pain']
