[Radiculographic symptoms of changes in the adjacent intervertebral disks in the course of lumbar disk prolapse]

From a group of 400 radiculographic examinations the authors selected 34 cases operated upon for disc prolapse. These patients had additional signs of prolapse of the neighbouring intervertebral discs. The analysis showed that the latter signs were present mostly in the discs situated above the level of disc prolapse. In only two cases these changes were found in the disc situated below the level of prolapse. The sign of bulging-in dural sac in radiculography may be an impression of bulging disc and, much less frequently, it can be caused by a slight prolapse of the disc. Demonstration of these changes in contrast-medium investigations of the vertebral canal should be taken into account during the planned operation. The importance of disturbances of spinal biomechanics in the development of multilevel discopathy is stressed.