12/17/2025
New from the European Spine Journal -
This study compared the diagnostic accuracy of the Compression Overload Test (C**T) and the Straight Leg Raise Test (SLRT) using MRI as the reference standard. Lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH) was confirmed on MRI in 50 out of 53 participants.
However, only 15 participants (28.3%) had a positive SLRT, indicating that the majority had IVDH without classic radicular symptoms. In contrast, C**T was positive in 47 participants (88.7%), including many who had a negative SLRT.
These findings suggest that C**T may be useful in detecting mechanical disc pathology, such as disc bulges or vertebral endplate-related stress, even when neural tension signs.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00586-025-09164-6
M, Eapen C, Eappakkam Kumaraswamy P, Palaniswamy V. Diagnostic accuracy of the compression overload test versus straight leg Raise test in detecting lumbar disc herniation: an MRI-Validated Cross-Sectional study. Eur Spine J. 2025 Oct;34(10):4377-4385. doi: 10.1007/s00586-025-09164-6. Epub 2025 Jul 21. PMID: 40694111.
Purpose To determine the diagnostic performance of the Compression Overload Test (C**T) compared with the Straight Leg Raise Test (SLRT) in detecting lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH), using MRI as the reference standard. A secondary objective was to evaluate the correlation between each....
