H-reflex test is known as a useful tool in the diagnosis of S1 radiculopathy and the differential diagnosis between S1 and L5 radiculopathy. We studied the H-reflex of the bilateral posterior tibial nerves in 155 patients with low back syndrome with Medelec MS 6, period of 8 months from Jan. 1984 to Aug. 1984 at Kang nam St. Mary's hospital. The results are as follows. 1) The patients were composed of 106 males and 49 females with age of 14-67. 2) 88 cases showed abnormal EMG findings. In these patients, 41 cases were S1 radiculopathy, and 34 cases were L5 radiculopathy. 3) 16 cases of S1 radiculopathy revealed no response of H-reflex test and 21 cases of S1 radiculopathy showed delayed latencies and the other S1 radiculopathy showed normal latencies. 4) There were 15 unilateral S1 radiculopathy in 41 S1 radiculopathy. 11 cases of unilateral S1 radiculopathy showed meaningful side to side difference (more than 2.0 msec). 5) There were 36 cases of abnormal H-reflex test among the 45 cases who showed abnormal ankle jerk (decreased or absent). |