Selective nerve root injections can predict surgical outcome for lumbar and cervical radiculopathy: comparison to magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective: Diagnostic selective nerve root injection (SNI) results were analyzed in 101 patients who underwent lumbar or cervical decompression for radiculopathy and compared to surgical outcome 1 year postoperatively. A comparison of surgical outcomes was also examined between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and SNI results.

Results: Of the 101 patients, 91 (90%) had positive and 10 had negative SNI results at the level operated.