PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS IN HERNIATED LUMBAR DISKS - ASSOCIATION WITH RADIOLOGIC AND CLINICAL-DATA

This prospective observational study of 85 herniated disks was conduct ed to investigate the relationship between diskomanometry and radiolog ic and clinical parameters. The mean injection pressure (PO) was 282 k Pa, the residual pressure after 60 s (P60) was 181 kPa, and the loss o f pressure (LOP) was 34%. PO and P60 were moderately intercorrelated ( r = 0.51). The following associations were significant: low PO and P60 in advanced annular degeneration and disruption: low P60 and great LO P in large hernias and narrow disks. PO and P60 were not associated wi th the pain response at diskography, magnetic resonance signal intensi ty; or patient age, sex, weight, body mass index, type of occupation, or duration of symptoms. Diskomanometric data seem to be influenced by the level of annular degeneration and disruption, size of herniation and height of the disk space.