A reassessment of Holt's data on: "The question of lumbar discography"

Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1988 Dec:(237):120-4.

Abstract

This paper is a detailed critique of Holt's study entitled "The Question of Lumbar Discography." His finding of a 37% false positive rate in asymptomatic volunteers has been used to discredit lumbar discography as a valid diagnostic study in the investigation of low back pain patients with nonprolapsing disc disease of the lumbar spine. The authors show why Holt's paper should no longer be used as scientific and authoritative evidence against the use of discography by today's standards.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Back Pain / diagnostic imaging
  • False Positive Reactions
  • Humans
  • Intervertebral Disc / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging*
  • Radiography