Pressure measurements in herniated lumbar disks: association with radiologic and clinical data

This prospective observational study of 85 herniated disks was conducted to investigate the relationship between diskomanometry and radiologic and clinical parameters. The mean injection pressure (P0) was 282 kPa, the residual pressure after 60 s (P60) was 181 kPa, and the loss of pressure (LOP) was 34%. P0 and P60 were moderately intercorrelated (r = 0.51). The following associations were significant: low P0 and P60 in advanced annular degeneration and disruption; low P60 and great LOP in large hernias and narrow disks. P0 and P60 were not associated with the pain response at diskography, magnetic resonance signal intensity, or patient age, sex, weight, body mass index, type of occupation, or duration of symptoms. Diskomanometric data seem to be influenced by the level of annular degeneration and disruption, size of herniation and height of the disk space.