[Value of transfemoral lumbar phlebology in narrow lumbar canals (author's transl)]

Lumbar phlebology satisfies the three essential criteria for pre-operative investigation: 1) it confirms and defines the extent and morphological type of N.L.C. according to several characteristic signs (progressive approaching of the L.E.P., absence of injection of the L.E.P., reduced opacification of the L.E.P.). 2) it enables measurement of the degree of constraint of the vascular and nervous tissues in the spinal canal by studying the emissary veins. 3) it can detect any vertebral disc lesion present, by studying the L.E.P. This additional clinical investigation, which the authors found to be quite safe, complements conventional radiological examinations, tomography, and sacroradiculography with Dimer X, during pre-operative investigational procedures.