Cervical discogenic syndrome. Results of operative intervention in patients with positive discography.

In order to determine the validity of cervical discography in the diagnosis and treatment of patients presenting with cervical discogenic syndrome, a retrospective analysis of 34 patients who underwent cervical arthrodesis on the basis of positive cervical discography was performed. The symptomatic cervical levels were selected by reproduction of the patient's symptoms at the time of injection. No patient had radicular symptoms, and other diagnostic modalities such as computed tomography (CT) scanning or myelography had been within normal limits. Seventy percent of patients who underwent surgical intervention had good or excellent results. With proper utilization, cervical discography is a valid diagnostic study.