Audio Clinical Professionals

Imaging and EMG in Radial Neuropathy and Foot Drop

Reviews the relative strengths of MRI and EMG, then localizes a common peroneal nerve lesion that causes foot drop.

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Duration

00:02:31

File size

1.43 MB

Practitioner-Guided Note

Choose the test based on the localization question you are trying to answer, not as a reflexive pair of studies. MRI and EMG are complementary, but they answer different questions about structure and function.

Key Takeaways

MRI is more sensitive for structural lesions, while EMG is more specific for physiologic mimics; Concordance between MRI and EMG is only moderate in many cases; Common peroneal neuropathy causes foot and toe dorsiflexion weakness with foot drop; Sensory loss in the first dorsal web space supports a peroneal lesion; Test selection should match the localization question