Discography findings and results of percutaneous laser disc decompression.

The aim of our study was to find a correlation between discographic finding s and the clinical outcome of patients treated by PLDD. Method: At our clin ic a total of 444 patients was treated by PLDD from 1992 until 1998. Of the se, 100 patients were included into this study by chance. All patients had discography. We analysed the discographic results and correlated them with the objective and subjective outcome after PLDD. Results: Best clinical res ults were found in the group of discographic stages 7 and 8 according to Kr amer. In cases of epidural leak of contrast medium and in cases of total de generation, the clinical results were significantly poor (stages 6 and 9). Conclusion: In cases of ruptured posterior longitudinal ligament, i.e., epi dural leak of contrast medium in discography, PLDD is not indicated. The in dication for an operation first Of all depends on the clinical symptoms but the success of the operation depends on the discographic findings.