Efficiency of discography followed by chemonucleolysis in the treatment of sciatica

One hundred and twenty-eight patients underwent discography in our department over a period of 3 years. Eighty-four of them were treated by chemonucleolysis. All the patients were punctured by a postero-lateral approach of the intervertebral disc under fluoroscopy. Although several contraindications to chemonucleolysis are known, in our study, only one case of spondylodiscitis was noted. Overall success rate was 72.6%. Twenty-three patients (27.4%) experienced similar or increased pain after treatment.