MEDizzy - You perform a Spurling test on a 36-year-old woman

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Acute Complaints

You perform a Spurling test on a 36-year-old woman complaining of neck pain. The test causes neck discomfort only. What is the most likely diagnosis for this patient?

ExplanationThe Spurling test is also called the neck compression test. It requires the patient to bend his/her head to the side and rotate the head toward the side of pain while the tester exerts downward pressure. The maneuver reproduces symptoms in the affected upper extremity in the case of nerve root injury. It has a high specificity, but a low sensitivity for cervical radiculopathy. Nonspecific mechanical pain should be considered to be the diagnosis if the maneuver results in neck discomfort only.