Table 6 Diagnostic accuracy of combined components of the bedside neurological examination 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 | Combination of 2 components | Â | Â | Â | Â |
|  |  |  |  | Sensory loss & tendon reflex loss | 14 (5–16) | 99 (94–100) | 14 | 0.87 |
|  |  |  |  | Sensory loss & weakness | 21 (9–28) | 96 (91–99) | 5.25 | 0.82 |
|  |  |  |  | Tendon reflex loss & weakness | 22 (11–24) | 99 (94–100) | 22 | 0.79 |
|  |  |  |  | Full neurological examination | 14 (5–16) | 99 (95–100) | 14 | 0.87 |
Lauder (2000) | neck and upper-limb symptoms, confirmed by EDX | Needle EMG and NCS (motor and sensory) | NA | Combination of 2 components | Â | Â | Â | Â |
| Â | Â | Â | Â | Sensory loss & tendon reflex loss | 9 (NR) | 97 (NR) | 3 | 0.94 |
| Â | Â | Â | Â | Sensory loss & weakness | 27 (NR) | 74 (NR) | 1.04 | 0.99 |
| Â | Â | Â | Â | Tendon reflex loss & weakness | 18 (NR) | 98 (NR) | 9 | 0.84 |
| Â | Â | Â | Â | Full neurological examination | 7 (NR) | 98 (NR) | 3.5 | 0.95 |
| Â | Â | Â | Â | Any components | 84 (NR) | 31 (NR) | 1.22 | 0.52 |
Inal (2013) | Clinical suspicion | Needle EMG and NCS (motor and sensory) | NA | Full neurological examination | 83 (52–98) | 28 (13–47) | 1.15 | 0.61 |
Conradie (2006) | Diagnosis of CR confirmed by MRI | MRI | NA | Full neurological examination | 91 (70–99) |  |  |  |