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The curved needle technique for accessing the L5/S1 disc space
1Centre for Spinal Studies and Surgery, Queen's Medical Centre, University Hospital, Nottingham, UK.
The British Journal of Radiology
|July 27, 2000
Abstract:
Bending the guide needle has been suggested as an alternative technique that may improve the success rate for accessing the L5/S1 level on discography. We performed a prospective randomized study to compare this technique with the use of a conventional straight needle. There was a significantly lower failure rate using the curved needle (p < 0.05). The incidence of nerve root impingement was also lower.