[Stress myelography. A new functional study technic in diseases of the lumbar spinal canal]

To optimize functional diagnostics in lumbar syndromes a new myelographic technique was developed termed "loading myelography". During the procedure the patient stands with a 10 kg. weight on his outstretched arms. Based on the law of leverage the load exercised on the vertebral column is more than two and a half times of one-half of the body weight. The author tested the efficacy of the method in 119 patients suffering from disc prolapse, spinal canal stenosis, spondylolisthesis or arachnitis. The results of the conventional myelogram compared with myelography under load conditions demonstrate the value of the method: without load the diagnosis would have remained uncertain in 25% and in 18% load myelogram revealed a pathological finding although conventional myelography was normal. We consider as indications for load myelography: Discrepancy between clinical and conventional myelographic findings; clinically expected multisegmental lesions; spinal canal stenosis; and spondylolisthesis.