Which test is among the most specific for detecting lumbar radiculopathy?

• A. Slump Test
• B. Crossed Straight Leg Raise
• C. Fajersztajn Sign
• D. Well Leg Raise

Answer: (B)

The main idea tested here is how specific a clinical test is for detecting lumbar radiculopathy. The crossed straight leg raise is the most specific among the options because reproducing radicular pain in the opposite leg when you lift the unaffected leg strongly suggests a nerve root irritation on the symptomatic side. This sign is unlikely to be positive from simple hamstring tightness or non-radicular spine pain, since those conditions don’t typically trigger contralateral radicular symptoms.

The other tests can be positive due to neural tension or pain from various non-radicular sources, so while they’re useful for detecting neural involvement, they don’t point as strongly to lumbar radiculopathy specifically.