THE DIAGNOSIS OF INTERVERTEBRAL DISK PROTRUSION BY INTRASPINAL INJECTION OF AIR

Abstract

Air or oxygen serves as an excellent contrast medium in the spinal canal for visualization of a protruded intervertebral disk or any other space-taking lesion. We have used gaseous contrast mediums as a routine for the past three and one-half years with all patients who have had sufficient symptoms and neurologic evidence to make us suspect an intraspinal lesion.¹Our experience, based on more than 300 spinograms, indicates that the method is accurate and reliable, as in each case in which operation was performed the exact level of the lesion determined by myélographie examination was verified by laminectomy. The procedure is harmless, so negative results cause no feeling of apprehension as to unpleasant or dangerous sequelae, such as might develop if the contrast medium were an unabsorbable substance. The use of air in the spinal canal was suggested by Dandy²in 1918, but only in recent years has it been possible to obtain sufficient contrast and detail in roentgenograms to utilize gaseous contrast mediums.