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Pain Med 2020 Apr 28. Epub 2020 Apr 28.

Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

Summary Of Background Data: The literature on cervical provocation discography (C-PD) is sparse. A "Startle Response" during C-PD is a known phenomenon that might be mistaken as an indicator of discogenic pain at the provoked disc level, but this has not been quantitatively described.

Objectives: To determine the incidence of the Startle Response and its concordance/discordance with true-positive C-PD in patients referred for surgical planning or evaluation after ruling out other axial pain generators. Read More

J Vasc Interv Radiol 2020 Apr 29;31(4):686-689. Epub 2020 Feb 29.

Osteo-Articular Imaging Department, Hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 2 rue Ambroise Paré, 75010 Paris, France.

J Orthop Surg Res 2020 Jan 20;15(1):22. Epub 2020 Jan 20.

Department of Orthopaedics, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal System Degeneration and Regeneration Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, People's Republic of China.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of OLIF in the treatment of reoccurring discogenic low back pain (LBP) after discoblock METHODS: We included 108 patients with LBP that was suspected to be discogenic (such as high intensity zone, Schmorl's nodes, Modic changes Type I, etc.), from August 2015 to August 2017. All patients underwent discography, and patients whose LBP was confirmed to be discogenic received discoblock. Read More

J Comput Assist Tomogr 2020 Jan 10. Epub 2020 Jan 10.

Anne Arundel Medical Center/Annapolis Radiology Associates, Annapolis, MD.

Objective: The objective of this study was to show that degenerative lumbar magnetic resonance imaging findings variably increase discography pain by level.

Methods: Lumbar discography and magnetic resonance imaging of 736 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Univariate/multivariate logistic regressions calculated the odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval, P < 0. Read More

J Am Osteopath Assoc 2019 Dec;119(12):814-819

Context: Discogenic low back pain is the most common type of low back pain and is a major cause of morbidity worldwide. Current nonoperative treatment options are limited in efficacy and lack evidence of long-term pain relief; thus, there is an unmet clinical need for an effective treatment for patients with discogenic pain. Amniotic membrane and umbilical cord (AMUC) particulate may be useful in relieving pain and inhibiting the degenerative cascade in patients with discogenic pain by reducing inflammation. Read More

Science 2019 11;366(6468)

Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16802, USA.

What is universal about music, and what varies? We built a corpus of ethnographic text on musical behavior from a representative sample of the world's societies, as well as a discography of audio recordings. The ethnographic corpus reveals that music (including songs with words) appears in every society observed; that music varies along three dimensions (formality, arousal, religiosity), more within societies than across them; and that music is associated with certain behavioral contexts such as infant care, healing, dance, and love. The discography-analyzed through machine summaries, amateur and expert listener ratings, and manual transcriptions-reveals that acoustic features of songs predict their primary behavioral context; that tonality is widespread, perhaps universal; that music varies in rhythmic and melodic complexity; and that elements of melodies and rhythms found worldwide follow power laws. Read More

Neuroimaging Clin N Am 2019 Nov 12;29(4):553-561. Epub 2019 Aug 12.

Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Berman Institute of Bioethics, 550 North Broadway, Suite 301, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address:

In addition to basic image-guided injections, there are many advanced procedures to address the challenges of spine pain. Patients with debilitating symptoms are offered relief, a shorter recovery period, and fewer potential complications. Pain arises from numerous sites along the spine, presenting as spine pain or radiculopathy. Read More

Cureus 2019 Aug 21;11(8):e5453. Epub 2019 Aug 21.

Neurosurgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, USA.

Lumbar discal cyst (LDC) is a rare clinical entity with unclear etiology. Three theories have been proposed to describe the pathogenesis of this condition: (i) a reaction to spinal epidural hematoma; (ii) a pseudomembrane formation that follows the focal annular tear and disc degeneration; and (iii) an inflammatory reaction to the herniated disc fragment. It usually presents with radicular symptoms. Read More

Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 2020 Jan 13;43(1):94-102. Epub 2019 Aug 13.

Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche e Motorie, UOC Neuroimmagini e Neurointerventistica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Viale Bracci 16, 53100, Siena, Italy.

Purpose: To retrospectively assess safety and potential effectiveness of percutaneous intervertebral disc coagulation therapy (PDCT) using plasma thermal reaction for the treatment of lumbar and cervical disc hernias resistant to medical therapy.

Materials And Methods: Forty-four patients (age range 18-87 years, mean 52.7) with contained and extruded symptomatic lumbar (N = 48) and cervical (N = 6) disc hernias in the absence of free fragments causing radiculopathy without improvement after 6-week conservative therapy were enrolled. Read More

J Comput Assist Tomogr 2019 Jul/Aug;43(4):568-571

From the Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, MD.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to calculate the positive predictive value (PPV) of lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings for a painful disc using provocative discography.

Materials And Methods: Lumbar spine discography records and prediscography MRIs of 736 patients (2457 discs) who underwent discography for diagnostic purposes from 2003 to 2007 were retrospectively reviewed in an Institutional Review Board-exempt and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant protocol. Each level was identified as having high-intensity zone (HIZ) disc, disc protrusion, disc extrusion, or combination (any herniation type), disc bulge, disc degeneration, and spondylolisthesis. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jul;98(28):e16409

Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Yuquan Hospital, Medical Center, Tsinghua University, Beijing, P.R. China.

Rationale: Coblation of intervertebral disc is an effective and safe minimally invasive technology for treating discogenic pain. The inactivation of neural ingrowth around annulus and tissue ablation and coagulation are currently considered to be the major causes for success of this treatment. However, it has been found by clinical researchers that its long-term clinical outcome is not optimistic. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2019 Oct;44(19):E1161-E1168

Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

Study Design: Retrospective matched cohort study.

Objective: To determine if low-pressure lumbar provocation discography (PD) results in long-term accelerated disc degeneration, internal disc disruption, or disc herniation in patients with symptomatic low back pain (LBP).

Summary Of Background Data: Study of subjects without clinically-significant LBP suggests that high-pressure PD may accelerate disc degeneration. Read More

JBMR Plus 2019 May 4;3(5):e10180. Epub 2019 Mar 4.

Leni & Peter W. May Department of Orthopaedics Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY USA.

Discogenic back pain is multifactorial; hence, physicians often struggle to identify the underlying source of the pain. As a result, discogenic back pain is often hard to treat-even more so when clinical treatment strategies are of questionable efficacy. Based on a broad literature review, our aim was to define discogenic back pain into a series of more specific and interacting pathologies, and to highlight the need to develop novel approaches and treatment strategies for this challenging and unmet clinical need. Read More

Pain Physician 2019 03;22(2):187-198

School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien City, Taiwan; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Buddhist Taichung Tzu-Chi General Hospital, Taiwan.

Background: Controversy is not uncommon in the diagnosis of discogenic low back pain (DLBP) and in the identification of the location of the pain source for the symptomatic disc in patients with DLBP. Various techniques, from minimally invasive procedures to fusion surgery, are used to treat chronic DLBP, but the clinical outcomes are variable. Percutaneous endoscopic discectomy by transforaminal or interlaminar approach is considered to be an effective method to treat DLBP, but the evidence is limited; the lack of clear evidence may be associated with patient selection and surgical technique. Read More

Eur Spine J 2019 05 12;28(5):1014-1022. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Department of Orthopaedics, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 415 Fengyang Road, Shanghai, 200003, China.

Purpose: Discography can increase disc degeneration, but the influence of different discography variables on the degeneration of discs has not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of discography variables of needle diameter, type of contrast agent and volume of contrast agent on disc degeneration.

Methods: Three separate experiments examined needle diameter, and type and volume of contrast agent. Read More

J Occup Environ Med 2019 04;61(4):e155-e168

American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Elk Grove Village, Illinois.

Objective: The aim of this study was to summarize evidence-based diagnostic guidelines for low back disorders.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted. A total of 101 articles of high or moderate quality addressing low back disorders diagnostic evaluation met the inclusion criteria. Read More

Eur Spine J 2019 04 4;28(4):674-687. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to refine clinical MRS to optimize performance and then determine whether MRS-derived biomarkers reliably identify painful discs, quantify degeneration severity, and forecast surgical outcomes for chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients.

Methods: We performed an observational diagnostic development and accuracy study. Six hundred and twenty-three (623) discs in 139 patients were scanned using MRS, with 275 discs also receiving provocative discography (PD). Read More

J Pain Res 2018 14;11:2853-2857. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Care, Virginia iSpine Physicians, PC Virginia Spine Research Institute, Inc Richmond, VA, USA.

Cervical intervertebral disc has long been considered a common source of neck pain. However, the pain caused by the disc itself has not been clearly defined so far, and its diagnosis and treatment has always been controversial. Degenerative cervical disc has a rich supply of nerve fibers, is prone to inflammatory reactions, and is susceptible to pain that can be provoked by disc stimulation or distention, and can be eliminated by block. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Mar 7;123:81-85. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Department of Neurosurgery, The Leon Wiltse Memorial Hospital, Suwon, Korea.

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) is regarded as an alternative treatment for lumbar disc herniation. Although the indication for PELD has expanded with remarkable evolution of the technique, sometimes unexpected complications have occurred during PELD. We report 3 cases of de novo disc prolapse during PELD. Read More

Int Orthop 2019 04 30;43(4):861-867. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 5/F Professorial Block, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review the current understanding of high-intensity zones (HIZ) in the lumbar spine with particular attention to its imaging phenotype and clinical relevance.

Methods: A review was conducted of studies related to HIZ. Particular attention was made to imaging phenotypes and classification, and its relationship with discogenic low back pain (LBP). Read More

J Orthop Surg Res 2018 Dec 4;13(1):307. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Spinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, People's Republic of China.

Background: It is well known that internal disc disruption (IDD) is accelerated by factors such as aging and injury. High- intensity zone (HIZ) on lumbar MRI is usually considered a marker of painful IDD. However, many painful IDD show no HIZ. Read More

Pain Res Manag 2018 14;2018:6857983. Epub 2018 Aug 14.

Department of Neurosurgery, Nanoori Incheon Hospital, Incheon, Republic of Korea.

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) arising from degenerative disc disease continues to be a challenging clinical and diagnostic problem whether treated with nonsurgical, pain intervention, or motion-preserving stabilization and arthrodesis.

Methods: Fourteen patients with CLBP, greater than 6 months, unresponsive to at least 4 months of conservative care were enrolled. All patients were treated successfully following screening using MRI findings of Modic type I or II changes and positive confirmatory provocative discography to determine the affected levels. Read More

J Orthop Traumatol 2018 Aug 20;19(1):10. Epub 2018 Aug 20.

The Centre for Spinal Studies and Surgery, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals, Derby Road, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK.

Background: The primary management of pyogenic spondylodiscitis is conservative. Once the causative organism has been identified, by blood culture or biopsy, administration of appropriate intravenous antibiotics is started. Occasionally patients do not respond to antibiotics and surgical irrigation and debridement is needed. Read More

Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2019 Feb 11;124(2):181-189. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Department of Neurosurgery, Esencan Hospital, Istanbul Esenyurt University, Istanbul, Turkey.

In the literature, there have been no studies showing clear results on how radio-contrast pharmaceuticals would affect intact disc tissue cells. In this context, it was aimed to evaluate the effects of iopromide and gadoxetic acid, frequently used in the discography, on intact lumbar disc tissue in pharmaco-molecular and histopathological level. Primary cell cultures were prepared from the healthy disc tissue of the patients operated in the neurosurgery clinic. Read More

PLoS One 2018 1;13(8):e0200677. Epub 2018 Aug 1.

The Spine Center of Southern Denmark, Hospital Lillebælt, Middelfart, Denmark.

Background: Previous systematic reviews have reported positive associations between Modic changes (MCs) and low back pain (LBP), but due to their narrow scope and new primary studies, there is a need for a comprehensive systematic review. Our objectives were to investigate if MCs are associated with non-specific LBP and/or activity limitation and if such associations are modified by other factors.

Methods: A protocol for this review was registered at PROSPERO prior to commencing the work (PROSPERO record: CRD42015017350). Read More

Scand J Pain 2010 Oct 1;1(4):186-192. Epub 2010 Oct 1.

University of Newcastle, Newcastle Bone and Joint Institute, Royal Newcastle Centre, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia.

Many conditions associated with chronic pain have no detectable morphological correlate. Consequently, the source of pain cannot be established by clinical examination or medical imaging. However, for some such conditions, the source of pain can be established using diagnostic blocks. Read More

J Surg Orthop Adv Spring 2018;27(1):25-32

Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.

Lumbar discography (LD) is used to guide surgical decision making in patients with degenerative disc disease (DDD). Its safety and diagnostic accuracy are under contention. This study evaluates LD's efficacy within the workers' compensation (WC) population. Read More

J Spine Surg 2018 Mar;4(1):79-85

Department of Orthopaedics, Iwai Orthopaedic Medical Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) is a relatively less invasive treatment for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). The present study focused on the transforaminal approach (TFA) and investigated the significance of PELD via this approach for large central LDH.

Methods: LDH that did not show cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) on axial T2-weighted magnetic resonance images was defined as large central LDH. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Apr;97(16):e0509

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Namku, Taegu, Republic of Korea.

Rationale: Despite medication, exercise, and medical intervention, many patients complain of persistent discogenic neck pain. To manage discogenic neck pain, we performed intradiscal pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) stimulation in a patient with chronic discogenic neck pain refractory to oral medication and epidural steroid injection.

Patient Concerns: A 26-year-old man presented with a numeric rating scale (NRS) score of 7 for chronic neck pain. Read More

Pain Physician 2018 03;21(2):91-110

Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Background: The intervertebral disc has been implicated as a major cause of chronic spinal pain based on clinical, basic science, and epidemiological research. There is, however, a lack of consensus regarding the diagnosis and treatment of intervertebral disc disorders. Based on controlled evaluations, lumbar intervertebral discs have been shown to be the source of chronic back pain without disc herniation in 26% to 39% of patients, and in 16% to 53% of patients with pain in the cervical spine. Read More

Eur Spine J 2018 09 28;27(Suppl 6):816-827. Epub 2018 Feb 28.

Department of Neurological Surgery, Başkent University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic literature review was to develop recommendations for the assessment of spine-related complaints in medically underserved areas with limited resources.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and best evidence synthesis of guidelines on the assessment of spine-related complaints. Independent reviewers critically appraised eligible guidelines using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation-II criteria. Read More

Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2016 12 5;30(6):981-993. Epub 2017 Oct 5.

Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Despite the increased interest in economic evaluations, there are difficulties in applying the results of such studies in practice. Therefore, the "Research Agenda for Health Economic Evaluation" (RAHEE) project was initiated, which aimed to improve the use of health economic evidence in practice for the 10 highest burden conditions in the European Union (including low back pain [LBP] and neck pain [NP]). This was done by undertaking literature mapping and convening an Expert Panel meeting, during which the literature mapping results were discussed and evidence gaps and methodological constraints were identified. Read More

Eur Spine J 2018 01 27;27(1):222-230. Epub 2017 Oct 27.

Translational Centre of Regenerative Medicine TRM, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 55, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.

Purpose: This work describes a minimally invasive damage model for ovine lumbar discs via partial nucleotomy using a posterolateral approach.

Methods: Two cadavers were dissected to analyze the percutaneous corridor. Subsequently, 28 ovine had their annulus fibrosus punctured via awl penetration under fluoroscopic control and nucleus pulposus tissue removed via rongeur. Read More

Pain Med 2018 07;19(7):1334-1339

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Redwood City, California, USA.

Objective: To determine if a history of severe episodic low back pain (LBP) correlates with positive discography.

Methods: A retrospective chart review identified patients undergoing discography from January 2012 through February 2016. The review determined if the patient's LBP began or continued with severe disabling episodes (lasting a minimum of two days). Read More

Pain Physician 2017 09;20(6):447-470

Medical Director of interventional spine El Magdi Military Compound Hospitals, Consultant & Head of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Assistant Professor at Egyptian Military Medical Academy, Egypt.

Background: Discogenic low back is a distinct clinic entity characterized by pain arising from a damaged disc. The diagnosis is clouded by the controversy surrounding discography. The treatment options are limited, with unsatisfactory results from both conservative treatment and surgery. Read More

Spine J 2018 04 7;18(4):558-566. Epub 2017 Sep 7.

Department of Neurosurgery, c/o Bergman Clinics, Rijksweg 69, 1411 GE Naarden, The Netherlands.

Background Context: Fusion surgery for degenerative disc disease (DDD) has become a standard of care, albeit not without controversy. Outcomes are inconsistent and a superiority over conservative treatment is debatable. Proper patient selection is key to clinical success, and a comprehensive understanding of prognostic tests does not currently exist. Read More

J Korean Neurosurg Soc 2017 Sep 30;60(5):485-497. Epub 2017 Aug 30.

Department of Spine Surgery, Wooridul Spine Hospital, Pohang, Korea.

Surgical treatment of the degenerative disc disease has evolved from traditional open spine surgery to minimally invasive spine surgery including endoscopic spine surgery. Constant improvement in the imaging modality especially with introduction of the magnetic resonance imaging, it is possible to identify culprit degenerated disc segment and again with the discography it is possible to diagnose the pain generator and pathological degenerated disc very precisely and its treatment with minimally invasive approach. With improvements in the optics, high resolution camera, light source, high speed burr, irrigation pump etc, minimally invasive spine surgeries can be performed with various endoscopic techniques for lumbar, cervical and thoracic regions. Read More

Scand J Pain 2017 07 21;16:213-220. Epub 2016 Nov 21.

Department of Statistics, Uppsala University, SE-75120 Uppsala, Sweden.

Background: Only two out of the five existing randomized studies have reported better results from fusion surgery for chronic low back pain (CLBP) compared to conservative treatment. In these studies the back symptoms of the patients were described simply as "chronic low back pain". One possible reason for the modest results of surgery is the lack of a description of specified symptoms that might be related to a painful segment/disc, and patient selection may therefore be more or less a matter of chance. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2017 Jul;96(30):e7222

aDepartment of Orthopaedics, First Affiliated Hospital of PLA General Hospital, Beijing bDepartment of Orthopaedics cEducation Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, the People's Republic of China.

The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between high-intensity zone (HIZ) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a lumbar disc and positive pain response assessed by discography for the diagnosis and treatment of discogenic low back pain (LBP). Thirty-seven patients aged 21 to 59 years with chronic LBP but without any neurological symptoms or lumbar disc herniation who underwent MRI and subsequent discography were included in this study. During discography, concordant pain was regarded as positive, whereas discordant pain and no pain were regarded as negative. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2018 04;43(7):467-476

Experimental Tissue Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Study Design: A study of mechanically induced herniation in punctured ovine discs followed by structural analysis.

Objective: To investigate whether an annular puncture influences the path that herniation takes by providing direct passage for nucleus through the annulus and therefore whether it increases the risk of acute herniation from overload at the site of damage independent of any longer-term degeneration.

Summary Of Background Data: Ten years after treatment with discography both degenerative changes and frequency of herniation have been shown to increase compared to untreated discs. Read More

Asian Spine J 2017 Jun 15;11(3):380-389. Epub 2017 Jun 15.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan.

Study Design: Preliminary clinical trial.

Purpose: To determine the safety and initial efficacy of intradiscal injection of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) releasate in patients with discogenic low back pain.

Overview Of Literature: PRP, which is comprised of autologous growth factors and cytokines, has been widely used in the clinical setting for tissue regeneration and repair. Read More

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2017 04 11;18(1):151. Epub 2017 Apr 11.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keiyu Hospital, 3-7-3 Minatomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 220-8521, Japan.

Background: Posterior epidural migration of lumbar disc fragments (PEMLDF) is extremely rare. It is often confused with other posterior lesions and is usually diagnosed intraoperatively. We here describe the use of preoperative discography in the diagnosis of PEMLDF. Read More

Pain Med 2018 01;19(1):29-39

Orthopaedic Surgery Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Background: A substantial part of low back pain (LBP) originates from degeneration of the intervertebral disc. To confirm the diagnosis of discogenic pain, provocation discography seems the best available tool. However, provocation discography is also considered to be a controversial and subjective test because the patient's personal pain response is the most crucial for the result of the test. Read More

Pain Med 2018 01;19(1):3-8

Los Angeles Minimally Invasive Spine Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Spine J 2017 04;17(4):612-613

Southern Rehabilitation Institute, 29 Byron Street, PO Box 7549, Sydenham, Christchurch 8240, New Zealand.

Spine J 2017 04;17(4):612

Department of Orthopedics and Physical Rehabilitation, UMass Memorial Medical Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Spine Center, Memorial Campus, 119 Belmont St, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.

Spine J 2017 04;17(4):610-611

Pain Center, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, Sede Italiano, Via Capelli, 6962 Viganello, Switzerland.

Clin Spine Surg 2017 04;30(3):E219-E225

*Biomedical Engineering †Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of California at Davis, Davis ‡Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA §Complete Orthopaedic Care, Lincolnshire, IL.

Study Design: An experimental and computational finite element analysis of human lumbar spine discography and its resulting effects on disk biomechanics.

Objective: To characterize the changes in stress and displacement of the human lumbar spine disks after puncture due to discography.

Summary Of Background Data: Discography of the intervertebral disk (IVD) may be used to diagnose pathology of the disk and determine whether it may be a source for chronic back pain. Read More