Is the straight leg raise suitable for the diagnosis of radiculopathy? analysis of diagnostic accuracy in a phase iii study

Montaner-Cuello, Alberto (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Bueno-Gracia, Elena (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Rodríguez-Mena, Diego (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Estébanez-de-Miguel, Elena (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Malo-Urriés, Miguel (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Ciuffreda, Gianluca (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Caudevilla-Polo, Santos (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: The straight leg raise test (SLR) has been proposed to detect increased nerve mechanosensitivity of the lower limbs in individuals with low back pain. However, its validity in the diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathy shows very variable results. The aim of this study was to analyse the diagnostic validity of the SLR including well-defined diagnostic criteria (a change in symptoms with the structural differentiation manoeuvre and the reproduction of the patient’s symptoms during the test or the asymmetries in the range of motion or symptoms location between limbs) in a sample of participants in phase III with suspicion of lumbar radiculopathy using the electrodiagnostic studies (EDX) as the reference standard. A phase III diagnostic accuracy study was designed. In total, 142 individuals with suspected lumbosacral radiculopathy referred for EDX participated in the study. Each participant was tested with EDX and SLR. SLR was considered positive using three diagnostic criteria. The sensitivity of the SLR for Criterion 3 was 89.02% (CI 81.65–96.40), the specificity was 25.00% (CI 13.21–36.79), and the positive and negative likelihood ratios were 1.19 (CI 1.01–1.40) and 0.44 (0.21–0.94), respectively. SLR showed limited validity in the diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathy. The incorporation of more objective diagnostic criteria (asymmetry in range of motion or localisation of symptoms) improved the diagnostic validity but the imprecision of the confidence intervals limited the interpretation of the results.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11243138

Año: 2023

Publicado en: Healthcare (Switzerland) 11, 24 (2023), 3138 [12 pp.]
ISSN: 2227-9032

Factor impacto JCR: 2.4 (2023)

Categ. JCR: HEALTH POLICY & SERVICES rank: 49 / 118 = 0.415 (2023) - Q2 - T2
Categ. JCR: HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES rank: 73 / 174 = 0.42 (2023) - Q2 - T2

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 3.5 - Leadership and Management (Q2) - Health Policy (Q2) - Health Informatics (Q3) - Health Information Management (Q3)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.606 - Health Policy (Q2) - Leadership and Management (Q2) - Health Informatics (Q3) - Health Information Management (Q3)

Tipo y forma: Artículo (Versión definitiva)

Área (Departamento): Area Medicina (Dpto. Medicina, Psiqu. y Derm.)
Área (Departamento): Área Fisioterapia (Dpto. Fisiatría y Enfermería)