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NCT Number: NCT07799142

Femoral Stretch Test in L2-L4 Lumbar Radiculopathy

This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the sensitivity of the femoral stretch test in patients with unilateral, single-root L2, L3, or L4 nerve root compression and to determine whether test positivity differs according to the affected nerve root.

Patients with unilateral radicular symptoms and magnetic resonance imaging-confirmed single-root compression involving the L2, L3, or L4 nerve root who are scheduled to undergo transforaminal epidural steroid injection as part of routine clinical care will be included. The decision to perform transforaminal epidural steroid injection will be made independently of participation in the study.

Before the procedure, the femoral stretch test, pain intensity, neuropathic pain characteristics, dermatomal concordance of symptoms, and relevant magnetic resonance imaging findings will be recorded. The femoral stretch test and pain intensity will be reassessed 1 hour after the procedure. The study will primarily evaluate the sensitivity of the femoral stretch test for L2, L3, and L4 nerve root involvement and will also assess changes in test findings following transforaminal epidural steroid injection.

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Key information

Conditions

Lumbar Radiculopathy Nervous System Diseases Neuromuscular Diseases Peripheral Nervous System Diseases Radiculopathy

Age range

18 month and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital

Istanbul, Pendik, 34899, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Nurbanu Hindioglu Dogan, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+902166254545

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients with a diagnosis of lumbar radicular pain based on medical history, physical examination, and imaging findings.
  • Patients with unilateral L2, L3, or L4 nerve root involvement who are scheduled to undergo single-level, unilateral transforaminal epidural steroid injection targeting the corresponding nerve root.

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of diabetes mellitus or other medical conditions that may cause polyneuropathy.
  • Presence of active radicular pain originating from lumbosacral nerve roots other than L2, L3, or L4.
  • Unavailability of relevant radiological imaging.
  • Cognitive impairment that may interfere with clinical assessment.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Presence of local or systemic infection.

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Root-Level Sensitivity of the Femoral Stretch Test for L2, L3, and L4 Nerve Root Compression

    Time frame: Baseline

    The sensitivity of the femoral stretch test will be calculated separately in patients with unilateral, Magnetic Resonance Imaging-confirmed single-root L2, L3, and L4 nerve root compression. Root-level sensitivities will be compared to determine whether the diagnostic sensitivity of the test differs according to the affected nerve root.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Femoral Stretch Test Positivity Following Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection

    Time frame: Baseline and 1 hour post-procedure

    Femoral stretch test results will be recorded as positive or negative immediately before and after transforaminal epidural steroid injection. The proportion of patients with a change from a positive to a negative test following the procedure will be evaluated overall and according to the affected nerve root (L2, L3, and L4).

  2. Change in Pain Intensity Following Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection

    Time frame: Baseline and 1 hour post-procedure

    Pain intensity will be assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale, ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain), immediately before and after transforaminal epidural steroid injection. The change in Numeric Rating Scale score following the procedure will be evaluated.

  3. Association Between Femoral Stretch Test Positivity and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Nerve Root Compression Severity

    Time frame: Baseline

    The association between pre-procedural femoral stretch test positivity and the severity of nerve root compression on lumbar magnetic resonance imaging will be evaluated in patients with unilateral, single-root L2, L3, or L4 nerve root compression.

  4. Association Between Femoral Stretch Test Positivity and Neuropathic Pain Characteristics

    Time frame: Baseline

    Neuropathic pain characteristics will be assessed using the 10-item DN4 neuropathic pain questionnaire, a validated screening tool for neuropathic pain. The total score ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating a greater likelihood of neuropathic pain. The association between the pre-procedural DN4 score and femoral stretch test positivity will be evaluated in patients with unilateral, single-root L2, L3, or L4 nerve root compression.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Nurbanu Hindioglu Dogan, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+902166254545

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Marmara University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Root-Level Diagnostic Sensitivity of the Femoral Stretch Test in Patients With L2, L3, or L4 Nerve Root Compression: A Prospective Observational Study

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Sep 2, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 11, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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