Musculoskeletal · UKMLA & AKT
Lumbar radiculopathy (sciatica)
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test. Below are the key points to recognise lumbar radiculopathy (sciatica) — the full SA Note notes add investigations, management, complications and 10 practice questions.
Key high-yield points
- The exam almost exclusively tests ability to localise the affected nerve root from clinical features. The three key discriminators are: which reflex is reduced, what dermatome is affected, and which movement is weak.
L5 has no lower limb reflex loop - intact reflexes in a patient with foot drop and dorsal foot numbness point firmly to L5. This is the most common exam trap.
S1+S2 - I tie my shoe (ankle jerk); L3+L4 - I kick the door (knee jerk)
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