Value of Functional Anesthetic and Provocative Discography in the Surgical Treatment of Discogenic Pain
Discogenic Pain, Low Back Pain
About this trial
This is an interventional diagnostic trial for Discogenic Pain focused on measuring low back pain, spinal fusion, Primarily axial low back pain
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age between 21 to 65 years.
- Symptoms of at least 6 months duration.
- Primarily axial low back pain.
- At least 6 months of conservative treatment, including, physical therapy, injections, chiropractic etc.
- Patients with overall pain scores of greater than 6/10 (NRS).
- Recent (within the past 6 months) lumbar spine MRI showing: disc desiccation and loss of disc height of at least one disc level.
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of previous spine surgery.
- MRI changes at more than two disc levels on the recent (within the past 6 months) lumbar spine MRI.
Clinical or radiological evidence of significant:
- Disc herniation
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spinal Deformity
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spinal instability or pars-defect
- Facet Syndrome
- Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
- Myofascial Pain Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
Current issues of:
- Litigation
- Disability
- Drug addiction or substance abuse
- Chronic pain medication abuse
- Current diagnosis of and medication use for unstable anxiety, depression, and/or behavioral disorders.
Sites / Locations
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Active Comparator
Functional anesthetic discography
Provocative Discography
The patients disc levels for surgical treatment will be based exclusively on their Functional anesthetic discography results. The discography will be performed at a maximum of two disc levels. Discs showing the following MRI findings will be considered for discography: Loss of disc signal intensity on T-2 weighted sagittal MR images. Loss of disc height on sagittal MR images. Patients will be followed-up at 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after the surgery by research personnel. Patients will be asked to complete questionnaires before their discography and at every follow-up visit.
The patients disc levels for surgical treatment will be based exclusively on their Provocative Discography results. The discography will be performed at a maximum of two disc levels. Discs showing the following MRI findings will be considered for discography: Loss of disc signal intensity on T-2 weighted sagittal MR images. Loss of disc height on sagittal MR images. The control disc, in the case provocative discography group must appear normal on the MRI - must have preserved disc height and central disc signal intensity on T-2 weighted images. The provocative discography will be performed using the standard IASP criteria. The patients will be followed-up at 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after the surgery.