The use of discography in the diagnosis of lesions in the thoracic spine hernia

Abstract

In order to improve the diagnosis of thoracic intervertebral discs’ hernia, the results of 20 patients, surgically treated from 1999 to 2009 years have been analyzed. For diagnostics discography was used. For estimation of motor, sensitive, pelvic disorders, pain syndrome intensiveness, patient’s functional status we used a scale of thoracic mieloradiculopathy, which characterizes the patient’s state by one number. At patients, whom discography was applied for diagnostics, statistically significant increase of low functional deficits frequency was observed. Discography appeared to be useful for surgical intervention planning on thoracic spine, for example, stabilizing transactions, any percutaneous decompressive operations performing and repeated surgical interventions on spine. Discography — is very informative and relatively safe diagnostics method.