Problems in neurolocalization.

A complete neurologic examination is essential to manage patients with thoracolumbar or cervical intervertebral disc herniations appropriately. The neurologic examination provides an assessment of the severity of the lesion and allows the lesion to be accurately localized. This chapter will review the basic principles of localizing the compressive spinal and lesions and will discuss some specific problems encountered in localizing thoracolumbar and cervical intervertebral disc herniations.