New concepts in diagnosis and treatment of back ailments in the elderly

With the advances in knowledge of the pathophysiology of spinal disorders plus the revolutionary advent of axial tomography, the treatment of back disorders, particularly in the elderly, is becoming more efficacious. Invasive procedures such as myelography, diskography, and epidural venography are becoming outmoded as computer software is further developed, enabling even more sophisticated planal reconstructions, including three-dimensional displays. The outlook for the elderly patient with physically disabling back disorders is much brighter indeed.