Cervical Discography Complications and Clinical Efficacy

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Abstract
To determine the incidence and magnitude of complications of cervical discography as well as to assess the clinical results of operative treatment based on discographic findings, a series of 31 patients who underwent cervical discography was reviewed. Twenty-six patients (84%) experienced provocative concordant symptomatology and were considered positive. The overall complication rate was 13% (4/31), including the development of an acute epidural abscess that led to myelopathy and eventual quadriplegia. Of the twenty-two patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion on the basis of cervical discography, one patient had an excellent result (5%), nine patients had good results (41%), and six patients each had fair and poor results (54%). Diagnostic cervical discography was found not to provide the degree of clinical predictive value necessary to substantiate its potential risks and complications.

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