The influence of psychologic factors on diskography in patients with chronic axial low back pain.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a patient's presenting psychometric scores affect the findings of a pressure and injection speed-controlled manometric lumbar diskography in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP).


METHODS
A prospective, correlation-based, investigative study.


METHODS
Free-standing ambulatory spine surgery center.


METHODS
Two hundred sixty-three disks from 81 patients (54 men, 27 women).


METHODS
Diskography was performed using pressure and injection speed-controlled techniques. The patients were divided into psychometric subgroups (normal, at risk, abnormal) according to the Distress and Risk Assessment Method (DRAM).


METHODS
The diskography findings on each psychometric DRAM subgroup were evaluated.


RESULTS
Across the individual psychometric categories, the positive rates of diskography in the normal, at-risk, and abnormal subgroups were 75.0% (9/12), 59.5% (25/42), and 70.4% (19/27), respectively (P>.05). The mean numeric rating scores of pain at 15 and 50 psi above the opening pressure were similar in the 3 psychometric subgroups. There was no correlation between the diskography results and the psychometric subgroupings.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with CLBP, there is no correlation between the presenting psychometric DRAM score and the findings from pressure and injection speed-controlled manometric lumbar diskography.
Derby
Richard
R
Spinal Diagnostics and Treatment Center, Daly City, CA, USA.
Lee
Sang-Heon
SH
Chen
Yung
Y
Kim
Byung-Jo
BJ
Lee
Chang-Hyung
CH
Hong
Young-Ki
YK
Lee
Jeong-Eun
JE
Seo
Kwan-Sik
KS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D011859:Radiography; D018570:Risk Assessment