title: A digitizing technique for the study of movement of intradiscal dye in response to flexion and extension of the lumbar spine.
abstract: The effects of flexion and extension exercises on lumbar discs and low-back pain are controversial. Our goals were to develop a technique and program for digitizing and analyzing discograms and to study the motion of intradiscal dye in response to flexion and extension. Thirty-five patients following awake discography were evaluated with lateral radiographs obtained in an extension position and a flexion position. Fifty-three segments with normal morphology and 47 segments with abnormal morphology were studied. Discograms with normal morphology showed numerically significant change in position with a more anterior position occurring during extension. Changes in the position of intradiscal dye in discs with abnormal morphology were less predictable. Digitizing was an advantageous technique.
authors.affiliation: Alamo Bone and Joint Clinic, San Antonio, Texas.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Schnebel
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chowning
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D009068:Movement; D011859:Radiography; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents