Diagnostic workup

EMG

An EMG examination can help distinguish L5 Radiculopathy from a peripheral nerve lesion or plexus lesion. For the EMG examination results to be reliable, symptoms should have been present for at least 3 weeks[^1].

Differential diagnosis

In the differential diagnosis of peroneal palsy, compression of the L5 nerve root should be considered. However, L5 radiculopathy also causes pain in the affected Dermatome and weakening of the tibialis posterior reflex. In addition, paresis of the gluteus medius is observed, resulting in a positive Trendelenburg sign with compression of the L5 nerve root. Furthermore, in L5 radiculopathy, weakness in Foot inversion may occur in addition to weakness in dorsiflexion, which is not the case with peripheral peroneal palsy[^2].