Table 5 Diagnostic accuracy of muscle function testing to detect cervical radiculopathy
From: Neurological examination for cervical radiculopathy: a scoping review
Author (year) | Cervical radiculopathy diagnostic criteria | Reference standard | nerve root level/dermatomal territory | Index test | Sensitivity (95% CI) | Specificity (95% CI) | + LR | - LR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hassan (2013) | Clinical suspicion | Needle EMG and NCS (motor and sensory) | NA | Muscle function testing | 54 (38–65) | 93 (85–97) | 7.71 | 0.49 |
Lauder (2000) | Neck and upper-limb symptoms, confirmed by EDX | Needle EMG and NCS (motor and sensory) | NA | Muscle function testing | 73 (NR) | 61 (NR) | 1.87 | 0.44 |
Wainner (2003) | Clinical suspicion | Needle EMG and NCS (motor and sensory) | C5 | Deltoid | 24 (3–44) | 89 (81–97) | 2.1 | 0.86 |
|  |  |  | C6 | Biceps brachii | 24 (3–44) | 94 (88–100) | 3.7 | 0.82 |
|  |  |  | C7 | Extensor carpi radialis longus/brevis | 12 (0–27) | 90 (83–98) | 1.2 | 0.98 |
|  |  |  | C7 | MMT triceps brachii | 12 (0–27) | 94 (88–100) | 1.9 | 0.94 |
|  |  |  | C8 | Flexor carpi radialis | 6 (0–17) | 89 (82–97) | 0.55 | 1.05 |
|  |  |  | T1 | Abductor pollicus brevis | 6 (0–17) | 84 (75–93) | 0.37 | 1.12 |
|  |  |  | T1 | First dorsal interosseus | 3 (0–10) | 93 (87–99) | 0.40 | 1.05 |
Sleijser-Koehorst (2021) | Clinical suspicion | MRI | NA | Muscle function testing | 30 (20–43) | 72 (60–82) | 1.05 | 0.94 |
Conradie (2006) | Diagnosis of CR confirmed by MRI | MRI | NA | Muscle function testing | 81 (58–95) |  |  |  |