[Physical diagnosis--signs of lumbosacral irritation]

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 1999 Mar 20;143(12):617-20.
[Article in Dutch]

Abstract

Lasègue's test is a clinical test to demonstrate lumbosacral radicular irritation. Published evidence gives a high sensitivity (0.80-0.97) for a low lumbar disc protrusion but a low specificity (about 0.4) since this test is also positive in ischialgia due to other causes. A crossed Lasègue test had a high specificity (> or = 0.90) for presence of a (ruptured) disc prolapse. There is little or no literature about the reversed Lasègue and provocation by intra-abdominal pressure. The reproducibility of the Lasègue test is moderate (kappa about 0.55).

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intervertebral Disc Displacement / diagnosis*
  • Lumbar Vertebrae*
  • Lumbosacral Region
  • Male
  • Physical Examination / methods*
  • Radiculopathy / diagnosis*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sacrum*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity