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European Spine Journal
Published in: European Spine Journal 10/2017

01-10-2017 | Original Article

The nerve root sedimentation sign for differential diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis: a retrospective, consecutive cohort study

Authors: Liangming Zhang, Ruiqiang Chen, Bin Liu, Wei Zhang, Yeqing Zhu, Limin Rong

Published in: European Spine Journal | Issue 10/2017

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Abstract

Purpose

Using MR imaging, nerve root sedimentation sign (SedSign) was demonstrated to have a high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) in selected patients. This study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of SedSign in differential diagnosis of LSS and non-specific low back pain (LBP) in consecutive patients.

Methods

A series of consecutive patients with lumbar spinal MRI examination for back/leg pain in orthopeadic clinic were included. These patients were followed up and divided into two groups, symptomatic LSS and non-specific LBP, according to symptoms and radiological findings. Using MR images, SedSign was assessed by two spine surgeons and one radiologist independently. Then sensitivity and specificity of SedSign was calculated.

Result

A total of 320 patients (105 LSS and 215 non-specific LBP) were included. The SedSign had a sensitivity of 77.1 % and specificity of 47.0 % in the whole cohort. When these patients were stratified by dural sac cross-sectional areas (CSA), the SedSign had a sensitivity of 95.0 % and specificity of 4.7 % in patients with CSA ≤ 80 mm2 (severe radiologic stenosis), sensitivity of 74.2 % and specificity of 22.6 % in patients with CSA 80–100 mm2 (moderate radiologic stenosis), and sensitivity of 58.8 % and specificity of 61.0 % in patients with CSA 100–120 mm2 (mild radiologic stenosis). In selected cases composed by LSS patients with CSA ≤ 80 mm2 and non-specific LBP patients with CSA > 120 mm2, however, the SedSign had a sensitivity of 95.0 % and specificity of 80.0 %.

Conclusion

The present data demonstrated that the SedSign was not able to discriminate symptomatic LSS from non-specific LBP after adjusting by dural sac CSA. The diagnostic value of the SedSign was still uncertain.
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Metadata
Title
The nerve root sedimentation sign for differential diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis: a retrospective, consecutive cohort study
Authors
Liangming Zhang
Ruiqiang Chen
Bin Liu
Wei Zhang
Yeqing Zhu
Limin Rong
Publication date
01-10-2017
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Spine Journal / Issue 10/2017
Print ISSN: 0940-6719
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0932
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-016-4435-2

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