Ruptured cervical intervertebral discs.

Intractable pain in the neck and upper extremity is frequently radicular in character and mechanical in origin. Rupture of a cervical intervertebral disc is the most common cause. Diagnosis and localization are more difficult in the cervical than in the lumbar region. Pantopaque myelogram should be considered only as a mean of localization. Operation should be preceded by a thorough trial of conservative treatment.