Abstract
Background
Doubt has been cast over the accuracy of dermatome charts. This study investigated a large group of patients with known lumbar nerve root compression (NRC), and identified whether their radicular pain corresponded with the predicted distribution on a dermatome chart.
Methods
The study included 209 patients that presented with lumbar radiculopathy. 106 were confirmed as L5 NRC and 103 as S1 NRC, by MRI. Each patient used an interactive computer assessment program to record their pain on a body map image. The coordinates were then used to compare the sensory distribution to a standard dermatome chart.
Results
Of those patients with L5 NRC, 56 recorded pain on the front aspect of the body map image, with 36 patients (64%) registering pain within the L5 dermatome. 94 recorded pain on the posterior aspect of the body, of which 31 (33%) registered pain within the L5 dermatome.
Of those patients with S1 NRC, 40 recorded pain on the front aspect of the body map image, with 18 patients (45%) registering pain within the S1 dermatome. 80 recorded pain on the posterior aspect of the body, of which 45 (56%) registered pain within the S1 dermatome.
Conclusion
Although the study found that patients did experience pain within the corresponding boundary on the dermatome chart, it was not exclusive to that zone. With the exception of the front aspect of L5, pain was experienced more in other lumbar dermatomes.
This would illustrate the necessity of developing a revision of sensory innervation patterns.
Conflicts of Interest
None
Source of Funding
None
