Lumbosacral Radiculopathy

Excerpt

Low back pain is among the most prevalent musculoskeletal complaints in clinical practice. Low back pain ranks as one of the primary causes of disability in individuals aged 45 and younger in the developed world, trailing closely behind the common cold as the second most common reason for work absenteeism. Furthermore, low back pain imposes significant annual healthcare costs on society. Although epidemiological studies may vary, the incidence of low back pain is estimated to exceed 5%, with a lifetime prevalence ranging from 60% to 90%. Fortunately, many instances of low back pain are self-limited and are resolved without medical intervention. Roughly half of cases resolve within 1 to 2 weeks, with 90% resolving within 6 to 12 weeks. Given the wide array of potential causes, the broad spectrum of differential diagnoses for low back pain should include consideration of lumbosacral radiculopathy.

Lumbosacral radiculopathy refers to a pain syndrome characterized by the compression or irritation of nerve roots in the lumbosacral region of the spine. This compression often stems from degenerative changes such as disc herniation, ligamentum flavum alterations, facet hypertrophy, and spondylolisthesis, culminating in the compression of one or more lumbosacral nerve roots. Symptoms typically include low back pain radiating into the lower extremities in a dermatomal pattern corresponding to the affected nerve root. Additional symptoms may include numbness, weakness, and loss of reflexes, although the absence of these symptoms does not exclude the diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathy.