COMPLICATIONS OF CERVICAL DISCOGRAPHY - FINDINGS IN A LARGE SERIES

The use of cervical discography remains controversial. Recently in a s mall patient group, a high complication rate was reported. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of complications associa ted with cervical discography. Data from 161 cervical discography proc edures, involving 269 disc injections, were recorded. There were four complications; thus the complication rate was 2.48% based on the numbe r of procedures and 1.49% based on the number of disc injections. The complications were two cases of discitis, one postinjection hematoma, and one patient developed significant headache pain after the disc inj ection. Reports of high complication rates associated with cervical di sc comes from them should serve as a warning that the procedure does h ave associated risks, and great care is warranted. However, based on t he results of our study, discography is not an inherently unsafe proce dure. It can be accomplished with few complications when performed in sterile conditions by those well experienced with cervical disc inject ions.