MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study includes patients attending the outdoor department or those admitted in the Neurology Department of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital with symptoms of lumbosacral radiculopathy. The study period was from 01/05/2016 to 30/04/2018. Inclusion criteria were radicular pain with or without sensory or motor signs with MRI evidence of root compression, patients with electrophysiology suggestive of radiculopathy in the absence of MRI evidence of compression and symptom onset within last three months. Exclusion criteria were patients below the age of 21 years and those above 60 years. Recurrent attacks, failed back surgery, cauda equina syndrome and red flags. Thorough history was taken from the patients and their family members particularly searching for acute events that lead to acute disc herniation. Examination was done to detect root affection by looking for muscular atrophy, loss of power and reflexes, dermatomal sensory loss and impaired straight leg raising test. Associated findings like loss of lumbar lordosis, reduced motion of spine, tilted spine and local vertebral tenderness were also looked for. In majority of the cases investigations were done after 6 weeks of conservative management to confirm or refute disc prolapse. Investigations were done like plain radiography, MRI of the lumbosacral spine in all cases, while nerve conduction study and electromyography were done in some cases where no MRI evidence of compression could be found. Study Design and Sample Size-This is a retrospective descriptive study and the Sample Size was 184 Patients.