Neurologic patterns in unilateral sciatica. A prospective study of 100 new cases.

A prospective study of 100 patients with neurologic deficits due to their first attacks of sciatica was performed. (Major published studies are nearly all retrospective and contain some patients who have had multiple attacks of sciatica). Characteristic motor patterns for L3-4, L5, and S1 root lesions were found. L3-4 lesions (17%) were significantly more common in 60+ age group. Lesions of L5 were significantly more common than S1 (approximately 2 to 1), a result which differs from all other major series. Reasons for this are discussed. Sensory disturbance (62%) was nerve present within motor loss and had poor localizing value.