False-positive findings on lumbar discography. Reliability of subjective concordance assessment during provocative disc injection

STUDY DESIGN: Experimental disc injections in subjects with no history of low back symptoms. OBJECTIVE: To determine in an experimental model the reliability of patients' subjective interpretation of pain concordancy during provocative disc injection. BACKGROUND: Discography in the evaluation of low back pain relies on a patient's subjective assessment of pain magnitude and quality during disc injection. Reproduction of significant pain on disc injection, which is similar to patients' usual pain, is believed to prove that the disc injected is the source of the patient's low back pain. In the current study, this hypothesis was tested in a controlled setting on patients with known nonspinal pain in a common referral area of discogenic pain. METHODS: Patients with no history of low back pain were recruited to participate in a study of discography. Patients scheduled to undergo posterior iliac crest bone graft harvesting for nonthoracolumbar procedures were evaluated with lumbar radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and psychometric testing. Two to 4 months after bone graft harvesting, patients underwent lumbar discography by strict blinded protocol. Patients were asked to compare the sensations elicited at discography to their usual back/buttock pain since bone graft harvesting. Pain was rated as 0-5 on a pain thermometer and concordancy was rated as none, dissimilar, similar, or exact. RESULTS: Eight subjects completed the study, and 24 discs were injected. Of the 14 disc injections causing some pain response, 5 were believed to be "different" (nonconcordant) pains (35.7%); 7 were "similar" (50.0%), and 2 were "exact" pain reproductions (14.3%). The presence of anular disruption predicted concordant pain reproduction (P < 0.05). Of 10 discs with anular tears, injection of 5 elicited pain that was similar to or an exact reproduction of pain at the iliac crest bone graft harvest sites. By the usual criteria for positive discography, 4 of the 8 patients (50%) would have been classified as positive. In these patients, the pain on a single disc injection was very painful, and the pain quality was noted to be exact or similar to the usual discomfort. All subjects had a negative control disc. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study demonstrate that patients with no history of low back pain who had undergone posterior iliac bone graft harvesting for nonlumbar procedures often experienced a concordant painful sensation on lumbar discography with their usual gluteal area pain. Thus, the ability of a patient to separate spinal from nonspinal sources of pain on discography is questioned, and a response of concordant pain on discography may be less meaningful than often assumed.     

Provocative discography in patients after limited lumbar discectomy: A controlled, randomized study of pain response in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects

STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective observational study of patients with low back pain and those without after laminotomy and discectomy. OBJECTIVES: To determine, using a strict experimental design, the relative pain intensity response to provocative discography in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects after lumbar discectomy for intervertebral disc herniation. BACKGROUND: Provocative discography frequently is used to evaluate persistent or recurrent low back pain syndromes in patients who have undergone posterior discectomy. The validity of interpreting painful injections during this procedure has not been critically assessed. The prevalence of significantly painful disc injections in a group with good outcomes after surgery is not known. Knowing the rates of significantly painful injections in asymptomatic patients after lumbar discectomy may clarify the meaning of painful injections in symptomatic patients. METHODS: From a cohort of 240 patients who had undergone single-level limited discectomy for sciatica, 20 asymptomatic volunteers were recruited for experimental three-level lumbar discography. Inclusion criteria required nearly perfect scores on standardized back pain rating instruments, no other spinal pathology, and normal psychometric screening. A control group of 27 symptomatic patients, after single-level discectomy with intractable low back pain syndrome, and without other spinal pathology, underwent discography. Seven patients in the control group had normal psychometric tests. Experienced raters who were blinded to control versus experimental status of the subjects scored the magnetic resonance imaging, discogram, psychometric tests, and discography videotapes of the subjects' pain behavior. RESULTS: There were 8 of 20 (40%) positive injections of discs that had previous surgery in the asymptomatic group and 17 of 27 (63%) positive injections in the symptomatic group. Specifically with regard to the symptomatic group, there were 3 of 7 (43%) positive injections (all concordant) in patients with normal psychometric scores, as compared with 14 of 20 (70%) positive injections (12 concordant) in patients with abnormal psychometric scores. Injections of discs that had previous surgery resulted in a mean pain score of 2.1 of 5 in the asymptomatic group, 2.1 in the symptomatic group with normal psychometric scores, and 3.4 in the symptomatic group with abnormal psychometric scores. Of the discs not treated with surgery, 2 were positive in the asymptomatic group (10%), 3 in 2 symptomatic subjects with normal psychological testing (29), and 18 in 13 symptomatic subjects with abnormal psychometric testing (76%). CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of asymptomatic patients with normal psychometric testing who previously have undergone lumbar discectomy will have significant pain on injection of their discs that had previous surgery (40%). This is not significantly different from the experience of symptomatic patients with normal psychometric testing undergoing discography on discs that had previous surgery. Patients with abnormal psychological profiles have significantly higher rates of positive disc injections than either asymptomatic volunteers or symptomatic subjects with normal psychological screening.     

Comparison of discographic findings in asymptomatic subject discs and the negative discs of chronic LBP patients: can discography distinguish asymptomatic discs among morphologically abnormal discs?

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Lumbar discography has been widely used for evaluating discogenic low back pain (LBP). Comparison of pain responses from suspected symptomatic discs with pain responses from asymptomatic negative discs is routine. However, the ability of discography to distinguish asymptomatic morphologically abnormal discs from those that are symptomatic has been understudied. In addition, the discographic characteristics of negative discs in patients with chronic discogenic LBP have not been reported. Criteria for negative morphologically abnormal discs may be valuable for excluding discs from further treatment and examination. PURPOSE: To determine if discography can distinguish asymptomatic discs among morphologically abnormal discs in patients with suspected chronic discogenic LBP and establish the standard characteristics of negative discs. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Prospective, experimental with control group. PATIENT SAMPLE: Fifty-five discs from a control group of 16 healthy volunteers without current back pain (11 men, 5 women, 32-61 years of age, mean age: 47 years) and 282 discs from a patient group of 90 LBP patients (59 men, 31 women, 20-70 years of age, mean age: 44.7 years) were recruited. METHODS: Discography was performed using a pressure-controlled manometric technique with an injection rate of 0.05 mL/s and a 3.5 mL restricted total volume. Concordance was rated as none/unfamiliar, or familiar. Pain was rated via a 0-10 numerical rating scale (NRS). The pressure and volume at which pain was evoked and NRS pain responses at 15, 30, and 50 psi were recorded. Annular disruption grade was rated during the procedure by computed tomography discography and fluoroscopic imaging. Negative discogram required no pain described by the participant as "familiar," with no pain responses >or=6/10 NRS at pressures 相似文献   

腰椎间盘造影一致性疼痛反应和纤维环破裂程度的相关性研究

目的: 研究椎间盘源性下腰痛病人纤维环破裂程度和腰椎间盘造影一致性疼痛之间的关系。方法: 105例慢性下腰痛且无椎间盘突出的病人, 行腰椎间盘造影术。询问造影时病人疼痛反应, 分析造影后的X线片和造影后的CT片, 比较纤维环破裂程度与腰椎间盘造影一致性疼痛之间的相关性。结果: 105例病人中的 285个造影的腰椎间盘中, 67个腰椎间盘诱发一致性疼痛反应, 且全部呈现 2级以上的纤维环破裂。纤维环破裂分级越高, 椎间盘造影时一致性疼痛比例越大, 两者之间有显著的正相关性。结论: 椎间盘造影诱发的一致性疼痛反应比例和纤维环外层破裂程度呈正相关, 研究结果表明纤维环外层撕裂是疼痛复制的起源部位。     

Psychophysical measurements during lumbar discography: a heart rate response study

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical data analysis. OBJECTIVE: To determine if heart rate (HR) response correlates with positive discography results. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Lumbar discography is a controversial tool for the diagnosis of discogenic low back pain. The subjective nature of discography can make data interpretation difficult, leading to false-positive and false-negative results. HR changes have been found in numerous studies to be a reliable and valid indicator of acute pain. To date, there is no study analyzing the HR response to discography-induced pain. METHODS: The HR measurements were recorded immediately preceding and after contrast injection into the each disc, and statistically correlated with the provocation of concordant pain, nonconcordant pain, and nonpainful discs. RESULTS: Discography was performed in 26 subjects with low back pain. Among 75 discograms, 26 discs elicited concordant pain, 9 provoked nonconcordant pain, and 40 elicited no pain response. There was no significant change in HR during disc stimulation for negative [no pain response (P=0.19) and nonconcordant (P=0.26)] discograms, whereas positive discograms [concordant pain (numerical rating scale> or =6/10)] were associated with a statistically significant increase in HR (P=0.000002). CONCLUSIONS: Lumbar discography induces positive HR response only in positive discograms. Although there is no immediate practical application of these results, 2 implications may deserve future research: (a) correlation of HR response with surgical and intradiscal electrotherapy treatment outcomes; (b) evaluation of HR measurement in cases of false-positive results (concordant pain on discography but no HR response).     

2000 Volvo Award winner in clinical studies: Lumbar high-intensity zone and discography in subjects without low back problems

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective observational study of patients with low back pain and those without was performed. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and significance of a high-intensity zone in a group of patients asymptomatic for low back pain, but who had known risk factors for lumbar disc degeneration. This asymptomatic group was compared with a symptomatic group of patients with respect to the presence of anular high-intensity zone and the pain response with discography. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Some authors have estimated the prevalence of a high-intensity zone in a group of symptomatic patients to be 86%. They have reported a strong correlation between a high-intensity zone and positive discography in patients with low back pain. Other investigators have reported evidence either supporting or discounting these findings. METHODS: Patients with low back pain and those without underwent physical examination, psychometric testing, plain radiograph, magnetic resonance imaging, and discography. The presence of a high-intensity zone, anular disruption, and positive discographic pain then were compared between the two groups. There were strict inclusion criteria for both groups. A total of 109 discs in 42 patients were evaluated in the symptomatic group and compared with 143 discs in 54 patients in the asymptomatic group. The presence of a high-intensity zone was determined by a standardized criteria on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images. Psychometric testing also was administered to each patient before discography. Standard discography was performed on all the patients, and the pain response was recorded using a visual analog scale according to the Walsh et al criteria. RESULTS: The prevalence of a high-intensity zone in the patient populations was 59% in the symptomatic group and 24% in the asymptomatic group. In the symptomatic group, 33 (30.2%) of 109 discs were found to have a high-intensity zone. In the asymptomatic group, 13 of 143 discs were found to have a high-intensity zone. In the symptomatic group, 72.7% of the discs with a high-intensity zone were positive on discography, whereas 38.2% of the discs without a high-intensity zone were positive. In the asymptomatic group, 69.2% of the discs with a high-intensity zone were positive on discography, whereas 10% of the discs without a high-intensity zone were positive. In the patients with normal psychometric testing, 50% of the discs with a high-intensity zone were positive on discography, as compared with 100% positive discography results in patients with abnormal psychometric testing or chronic pain. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a high-intensity zone does not reliably indicate the presence of symptomatic internal disc disruption. Although higher in symptomatic patients, the prevalence of a high-intensity zone in asymptomatic individuals with degenerative disc disease (25%) is too high for meaningful clinical use. When injected during discography, the same percentage of asymptomatic and symptomatic discs with a high-intensity zone were shown to be painful.     

应用椎间盘造影判断腰椎间盘突出症腰痛的来源

[目的]应用椎间盘造影术探讨腰椎间盘突出症患者临床腰痛来源.[方法]137例椎间盘突出症患者根据造影术前MRI表现将椎间盘分为:正常、突出和退变.患者腰痛和腿痛的严重程度应用疼痛视觉模拟评分(VAS评分)判定,分为三组:(1)腰痛为主组;(2)腿痛为主组;(3)腰腿痛并重组.对所有退变的腰椎间盘及至少1个作对照的正常椎间盘进行椎间盘造影检查,如造影过程中诱发一致性腰痛,即认为椎间盘造影阳性.[结果]137例患者总共427个椎间盘行造影检查,其中104个造影阳性.椎间盘造影阳性患者腰痛与腿痛VAS评分无明显差异(P＞0.05),而阴性者腿痛评分高于腰痛评分(P＜0.05).腰痛为主组,腿痛为主组,腰腿痛并重组其造影阳性率分别为79.2%,18.6%,71. 7%.MRI表现为正常、突出和退变的椎间盘其造影阳性率分别是1.4%、48.3%、21.6%(P＜0.05).[结论]盘源性腰痛可能是腰痛明显的椎间盘突出症患者腰痛的主要原因,这种腰痛主要来源于椎间盘突出节段和或邻近退变节段.     

Cytokine evaluation in individuals with low back pain using discographic lavage

Background contextThe pathophysiology underlying degenerative disc disease and its implication in painful syndromes remain unclear. However, spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can demonstrate changes in disc water content and the annulus; provocative discography purportedly identifies degenerate discs causing serious low back pain; and biochemical assays have identified local inflammatory markers. No study to date has correlated pain on disc injection during discography evaluation with relevant MRI findings and biochemical markers.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to correlate concordant pain on during discography to biochemical markers obtained by disc lavage and MRI findings.Study designThis is a Phase 1 Diagnostic Test Assessment Cohort Study (Sackett and Haynes).Patient sampleThe patient sample included 21 symptomatic patients with suspected discogenic pain and three Phase 1 control subjects.Outcome measuresThe outcome measures included discography pain scores, MRI degenerative grades, and immunoreactivity to various inflammatory cytokine concentrations present in disc lavage samples.MethodsTwenty-one symptomatic patients with lumbar degenerative disc disease and three control subjects underwent discography, MRI, and biochemical analysis of disc lavage fluid. Lumbar MRI was scored for Pfirrmann grading of the lumbar discs, and annular disruption was identified by nuclear disc lavage. Disc lavage samples were analyzed for biochemical markers by high-sensitivity immunoassay.ResultsEighty-three discs from 24 patients were studied: 67 discs from 21 patients with axial back pain (suspected discogenic pain group) and 16 discs from 3 scoliosis patients without back pain (Phase 1 control subjects). Among the biochemical markers surveyed, interferon gamma (IFN-γ) immunoreactivity was most consistently identified in patients with axial back pain. Discs with annular disruption and concordant pain reproduction at a visual analog scale of 7 to 10/10 had greater IFN-γ immunoreactivity than those without this finding (p=.003); however, at least some IFN-γ immunoreactivity was found in all but one disc in the symptomatic group.ConclusionsAmong the potential inflammatory markers tested in this Phase 1 study, IFN-γ immunoreactivity was most commonly elevated in discogram “positive” discs but absent in asymptomatic controls. However, this marker was also frequently elevated in degenerative but “negative” discography discs. From these findings, Phase 2 and Phase 3 validity studies are reasonable to pursue. Phase 4 utility studies may be performed concurrently to assess this method's predictive value in outcome studies.     

Comparison between pain at discography and morphological disc changes at axial loaded MRI in patients with low back pain

Purpose

Discogenic pain is induced by axial load, but there are no studies evaluating the influence of dynamic MRI in relation to provoked pain at discography. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between discography-induced pain and morphological disc changes, occurring during axial loaded MRI (alMRI). A secondary aim was to compare and register the frequency of provoked concordant pain at alMRI and discography.

Methods

41 patients with assumed discogenic pain were investigated with MRI, alMRI and pressure-controlled discography (PCD) (119 discs). Provoked pain at both discography and alMRI was classified as concordant or discordant with daily pain as reference. A concordant discogram required pain intensity ≥5/10 (numerical rating scale) at ≤50 psi and one negative control disc. A concordant provocation at alMRI required pain intensity ≥5/10. The relationship between concordant pain at discography and morphological disc measures (degeneration, height, bulge, angle, area, and circumference) at MRI/alMRI was investigated.

Results

Changes in the morphological appearance occurred in at least one disc level in all patients when loaded and unloaded MRI were compared. However, no significant differences between concordant and discordant discograms in terms of morphological disc features at conventional MRI or alMRI were found. 78 % of the patients reported concordant provoked pain during the alMRI.

Conclusions

In the majority of patients with low back pain, discography as well as alMRI provoked concordant pain. Loading of the spine, alMRI, revealed however no clinically useful morphological characteristics in the discs with concordant discograms. Alternative or more sensitive diagnostic methods are needed to understand load-induced discogenic pain.     

Disc deterioration in low-back syndromes. A prospective, multi-center CT/discography study

Disc deterioration and pain provocation in different low-back pain syndromes was studied using computed tomography (CT) discography. Data were prospectively collected for 300 patients (816 discs). Patients were classified by their pre-discography diagnosis of disc herniation (DH), degenerated disc (DD), lumbar syndrome (LS), lumbar radicular syndrome (LRS), or other. The CT/discograms were classified by discographic pain response, the amount of degeneration and annular disruption. Eighty-two percent of DH patients, 80% of DD, 56% of LS, and 59% of LRS patients had both positive discographic pain provocation and moderate or severe disc deterioration. The study indicates that intradiscal pathology plays a major role in nonspecific low-back pain syndromes.     

MRI高信号区与椎间盘造影在椎间盘源性腰痛诊断中的相关性研究

目的 研究腰椎间盘MRI高信号区(HIZ)与椎间盘造影诱发疼痛反应之间的关系,为椎间盘源性下腰痛诊断和治疗提供参考.方法 对37例长期慢性下腰痛、无典型的神经根性症状和体征,且CT证实无椎间盘突出的患者行MRI检查和腰椎间盘造影.分析造影后的X线片和CT片,并结合造影时诱发的疼痛反应,比较其与腰椎间盘MRI高信号区之间的关系.结果 37例患者共行98个腰椎间盘造影,21个椎间盘疼痛反应阳性,其中有HIZ的间盘10个,占47.6%.77个疼痛反应阴性的椎间盘中,有HIZ的间盘29个,占37.6%.纤维环破裂程度分级越高,MRI出现高信号区的比例也越高,说明有高信号区的纤维环破裂程度高,无高信号区的纤维环破裂程度低(P＜0.01);而高信号区与造影疼痛反应阳性之间并无明显一致性(P＞0.05).结论 MRI高信号区在诊断椎间盘源性腰痛中仅为提示性和筛选性的影像学征象,不能替代椎间盘造影的金标准.     

青年士兵盘源性下腰痛CT椎间盘造影与MRI表现的相关性

目的探讨CT椎间盘造影(CTD)诱发青年士兵盘源性下腰痛患者一致性疼痛与腰椎间盘MRI表现的相关性。方法对54例盘源性下腰痛青年士兵行MR检查后,共对152个腰椎间盘进行CTD,分析CTD分型、对比剂剂量、诱发一致性疼痛与MRI表现的相关性。结果青年士兵盘源性下腰痛患者椎间盘内破裂类型主要为CTDⅡ型和Ⅳ型,其分型、对比剂注射剂量与诱发一致性疼痛具有相关性(P0.01),腰椎间盘MRI表现与CTD诱发一致性疼痛存在明显相关性(P0.01)。结论 CTD能够定性诊断腰椎间盘内破裂,进一步确定责任椎间盘;MRI改变可能与青年士兵盘源性下腰痛的病因相关。     

椎间盘封闭术对纤维环破裂型椎间盘源性腰痛的诊治价值

 目的 探讨椎间盘封闭术对纤维环破裂型椎间盘源性腰痛的诊治价值。方法 临床高度怀疑椎间盘源性腰痛行椎间盘造影及单个椎间盘封闭术且有完整随访资料的患者120例,男72例,女48例;年龄25～60岁,平均48岁。根据造影术中纤维环破裂Dallas分级将患者分为0级组7例、1级组36例、2级组48例、3级组29例。采用疼痛视觉模拟评分(visual analogue scale,VAS)及罗兰莫里斯功能评分表(Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire,RMDQ)对术前及术后2周、2个月、6个月、12个月及24个月的疗效进行评估。结果 对高度怀疑的“责任椎间盘”进行封闭阻滞后患者腰痛症状明显改善,术后疼痛VAS和RMDQ评分与术前比较差异有统计学意义;Dallas 3级组中期疗效优于Dallas 1级组及2级组,差异有统计学意义;重度纤维环破裂患者(Dallas分级3级)术后各时间点腰痛症状复发率均低于其他各组患者。结论 椎间盘封闭术能有效缓解椎间盘源性腰痛的症状,并有一定的诊断价值,可作为造影术不能复制疼痛病例的补充诊断依据;纤维环破裂型椎间盘源性腰痛患者,特别是重度纤维环破裂患者,接受椎间盘局部封闭术后缓解疼痛的效果确切。     

诱发疼痛与椎间盘的病理变化：腰腿痛的CT椎间盘造影

作者对７３例腰腿痛患者进行了ＣＴＭ间盘造影检查，共１４６个间盘，其中突出５１个，退变９５个。根据造影中出现诱发疼痛与否，可分为无痛、非类似疼痛、类似疼痛和疼痛再现４类。椎间盘突出中６８． ９％有类似疼痛和疼痛再现。突出不合并或合并轻度退变时容易出现疼痛再现，合并严重退变则疼痛再现明显减少。无退变间盘常常是无痛的，退变间盘常有非类似疼痛。椎间盘造影诱发出的不同性质的疼痛有辅助诊断价值。疼痛的病理机制仍有待探讨。     

Diagnostic evaluation of low back pain

The diagnostic evaluation of chronic LBP is at best a complex and involved undertaking. The most important part of the process lies in the knowledge of the patient and a solid history and physical examination. From there, most of the serious and life-threatening causes of LBP can be elucidated and studies may be used for confirmation. Imaging studies are used most practically as confirmation studies once a working diagnosis is determined. MRI, although excellent at defining tumor, infection, and nerve compression, can be too sensitive with regard to degenerative disease findings and commonly displays pathology that is not responsible for the patient's symptoms. As an example, the high-intensity zones (HIZ) seen on MRI are reliable in determining annular defects in the disc but are not reliable in establishing internal disc disruption as the cause of LBP. Discography is the primary tool used by many physicians to determine the true pain generator when discogenic LBP is suspected. Because the reliability of the patient response is fundamental to discography, interpreting the test in different settings must be considered. In individuals with disc degeneration and annular defects, discography may elicit LBP with injection whether the patient is symptomatic with serious LBP or not. The pain response may be amplified in those subjects with issues of chronic pain, social stressors, such as secondary gain or litigation claims, or psychologic distress disorder. These factors have been shown experimentally to be associated with an increased risk for a false positive injection. The ability of an individual to differentiate the true site of LBP by the quality of sensation with disc injection (concordancy) of pain produced by the injected disc also may not be reliable. In fact, individuals may not have the neural discrimination to differentiate sclerotomal pain originating from different sites in the low back and pelvis. One may realize that chronic LBP illness may not stem from a mechanical spinal disorder alone. In fact, the mechanical pathology may be just a portion of the problem with amplification by neurophysiologic, social, and psychologic issues. Chronic disabling LBP commonly is confounded by chronic pain, emotional troubles, poor job satisfaction, alcohol and narcotic abuse, and compensation issues, just to identify a few. It would follow that expecting to identify a single cause for this symptom complex is impractical and any single test may not be a reasonable approach. Furthermore, surgical correction of the mechanical portion of chronic LBP. even if correctly identified, then can be expected only to relieve a portion of a patient's symptoms as long as the confounding issues continue to be significant or have become life long adaptive mechanisms. In the end, the discogram and other diagnostic tests are tools that have clear limitations. In this field, clinical judgment begins and ends with an understanding of a patient's life and circumstances as much as with their specific spinal pathology.     

The effect of spinal steroid injections for degenerative disc disease.

BACKGROUND: No conclusive evidence exists to determine that spinal steroid injections give lasting improvement in patients with predominantly axial low back pain resulting from lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD). PURPOSE: The objectives of the study were to determine the effect of epidural steroid injections (ESIs) and intradiscal steroid injections (ISIs) in patients who exhibit DDD symptoms for more than 1 year and to determine whether patients with inflammatory end-plate changes are a unique subgroup of DDD patients in terms of treatment response. STUDY DESIGN: Pain and function in patients with DDD were prospectively assessed by an outcomes questionnaire before and after various spinal injections. Further correlation was made with end-plate inflammatory (Modic Type 1) changes identified on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). PATIENT SAMPLE: ESI was performed in 232 patients who were referred for treatment of DDD, and discography with or without intradiscal steroid was performed in 171 patients who were possible spinal arthrodesis candidates. OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain and function were determined by a self-administered outcomes questionnaire that consisted of a visual analog pain scale, pain drawing, Oswestry Disability Index, use of pain medication and opinion of treatment success. METHODS: ESI was performed in 93 patients with DDD and inflammatory end-plate changes and in 139 patients without inflammatory end-plate changes. Patients with inflammatory end-plate changes (n=78) or without inflammatory end-plate changes (n=93), all of whom were considered fusion candidates, underwent discography with or without intradiscal steroid in a randomized fashion. Pain and function were prospectively determined by a self-administered outcomes survey (VAS pain, Oswestry Disability index [ODI], pain diagram [PD] and opinion of success) before and after the patients' injection for a 2-year follow-up period. MRI and discography results were correlated with patient outcomes scores. RESULTS: ESI was effective in improving pain and function, as assessed by outcomes scores at short-term follow-up. However, at 2 years, less than one-third had not had additional invasive treatment. Patients with inflammatory end-plate changes had greater improvement in ODI and PD scores in the first 6 months than did those patients without the end-plate changes. Intradiscal steroid injections into discs with concordant pain at the time of discography led to significant improvement in patients with inflammatory end-plate changes in all outcomes scales, but only minimal temporary improvement in patients without the end-plate changes. Disc pressure manometry at the time of discography found that discs with adjacent inflammatory end-plate changes reproduced symptoms at pressures significantly lower than those in other types of discs. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal steroid injections, both ESI and ISI, are beneficial for a small number of patients with advanced DDD and chronic low back pain. For those patients in whom a beneficial effect is found, spinal steroid injection is a low-risk and rapid treatment option. Spinal steroid injections are more effective in patients with MRI findings of discogenic inflammation, specifically adjacent inflammatory end-plate changes.     

Guidelines for the performance of fusion procedures for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. Part 6: magnetic resonance imaging and discography for patient selection for lumbar fusion

Discography is an exquisitely sensitive but not specific diagnostic test for the diagnosis of discogenic low-back pain. The restriction of the definition of a positive discographic study to one that elicits concordant pain from a morphologically abnormal disc improves the definition's accuracy. Fusion surgery based on discography alone, however, is not reliably associated with clinical success. Therefore, discography is not recommended as a standalone test for treatment decisions in patients with low-back pain. Magnetic resonance imaging is a sensitive and noninvasive test for the presence of degenerative disc disease. Discography should not be attempted in patients with normal lumbar MR images. Discography appears to have a role in the evaluation of patients with low-back pain, but it is best limited to the evaluation of abnormal interspaces identified on MR imaging, the investigation of adjacent-level disc disease, and as a means to rule out cases of nonorganic pain from surgical consideration.     

腰椎间盘MRI高信号区在诊断椎间盘源性下腰痛中的意义

目的:探讨腰椎间盘MRI高信号区(HIZ)在诊断椎间盘源性下腰痛中的作用。方法:对52例经保守治疗无效、CT影像上无腰椎间盘突出的下腰痛患者行腰椎MRI检查和腰椎间盘造影术,分析腰椎间盘MRI高信号区与腰椎间盘造影诱发的下腰痛之间的关系。结果:在行腰椎间盘造影的142个椎间盘中,共有38个椎间盘呈现疼痛复制反应,其中17个椎间盘显示高信号区。这17个有高信号区的椎间盘在椎间盘造影过程中全部呈现2～3级的纤维环破裂和疼痛复制反应。结论:无椎间盘突出的下腰痛患者在腰椎MRI上存在椎间盘内高信号区,可表明该椎间盘是产生腰痛的破裂椎间盘。