The syndrome of cervical radiculopathy usually follows a stereotyped pattern. With aging, degeneration of disc and cervical spine are known to occur. The symptoms and objective signs generally clear-cut and indicative of the level of radiculopathy. Generally, plane roentgenographic evaluation is an essential part of the diagnostic work-up of a patient with suspected cervical spondylosis or disc herniation causing root compression. However, there is no consistent relationship between plane X-ray changes and radiculopathy in degenerative cervical spine. The needle EMG is useful in confirming the presence of an organic radiculopathy, in delineating the specific root involved, and in differentiating radiculopathy from other types of neurologic disorder.

The study is carried out to investigate the comparative evaluation of the cervical radiculopathy with the clinical symptoms, radiologic findings and needle EMG findings. The results were as follows,

1) The incidence was higher in men and increasing with aging, but there was no significant differences related to the side of involvement.

2) The most common level of cervical radiculopathy was the 7th cervical root(57.4%, 51/89 cases).

3) Pain was the prominent symptome in the 7th, 8th cervical radiculopathy and motor weakness in the 5th, 6th cervical radiculopathy.

4) The muscles which showed clinical weakness commonly were deltoid, triceps, and abductor pollicis brevis, abductor digiti quinti in the 5th, 7th, and 8th cervical radiculopathy, respectively.

5) In plane X-ray, the degenerative changes of cervical spine showed in 85.4%(71/89 cases) and the most common feature was narrowing of the 5th and 6th cervical intervertebral spine (46.1%, 41/89 cases).

6) In needle EMG, positive sharp wave and fibrillation potentials were found in the 46.1%(41/89 cases) and the motor unit potential changes were showed in the 53.9%(48/89 cases).