RESULTS The results of this review confirm and help quantify the significant differences that existed in the terminology and all the areas of diagnosis and treatment of presumed discogenic pain .
Our findings show that suspected discogenic pain , despite its extensive affirmation in the literature and enormous re sources regularly devoted to it , currently lacks clear diagnostic criteria and uniform treatment or terminology
BACKGROUND CONTEXT Pain innate to intervertebral disc , often referred to as discogenic pain , is suspected by some authors to be the major source of chronic low back and neck pain .
Current management of suspected discogenic pain lacks st and ardized diagnosis , treatment , and terminology .
PURPOSE In an attempt to determine whether patterns existed that may facilitate st and ardization of care , we sought to analyze the terminologies used and the various modes of diagnosis and treatment of suspected discogenic pain .
Good Outcome and Restoration of Lordosis After Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion With Additional Posterior Fixation
Study Design . Fifty-two patients with degenerative disc disease underwent  single- or double-level anterior lumbar interbody fusion with SynCage and additional posterior fixation  as treatment for degenerative disc disease and were prospect ively followed for 4 years . Objectives . To test the clinical performance of anterior lumbar interbody fusion with SynCage , with emphasis on the safety and efficacy of the surgical procedure and the ability to restore anatomy and fuse the motion segment . Summary of Background Data . Anterior lumbar interbody fusion using femoral allograft and /or autologous bone has a high complication rate . With cage technology , some of these complications can be avoided . The design characteristics of the SynCage offer advantages in restoring and maintaining intervertebral height and restoration of lumbar lordosis . Methods . Thirty-three patients underwent single-level and 19 patients double-level anterior lumbar interbody fusion with SynCage and additional posterior fixation ( translaminar screws , n = 32 or pedicle screws , n = 10 ) . Radiologic and functional results ( VAS and Oswestry score ) were evaluated . Results . Intervertebral height was corrected from an average of 8.7 to 17.6 mm . Lordosis of the fused segment was significantly increased ( average 10.6 ° for the fused segment and 8 ° for lumbosacral lordosis ) . After 2 years , there was radiologic evidence for fusion in 70 of 71 ( 98.6 % ) levels . Functional scores showed a significant improvement in pain and function up to the 2-year follow-up observation . At the 4-year follow-up observation , there was some loss of the initial improvement in VAS and Oswestry scores . Despite this loss , they remained significantly better than the preoperative scores . Conclusions . Anterior lumbar interbody fusion with SynCage and additional posterior fixation is a safe and effective procedure . Intervertebral height is corrected , and lumbosacral lordosis is restored . An initial improvement in VAS and Oswestry scores is partly lost at the 4-year follow-up observation , but 4-year results are still significantly better than the preoperative scores
RESULTS The results of this review confirm and help quantify the significant differences that existed in the terminology and all the areas of diagnosis and treatment of presumed discogenic pain .
Our findings show that suspected discogenic pain , despite its extensive affirmation in the literature and enormous re sources regularly devoted to it , currently lacks clear diagnostic criteria and uniform treatment or terminology
BACKGROUND CONTEXT Pain innate to intervertebral disc , often referred to as discogenic pain , is suspected by some authors to be the major source of chronic low back and neck pain .
Current management of suspected discogenic pain lacks st and ardized diagnosis , treatment , and terminology .
PURPOSE In an attempt to determine whether patterns existed that may facilitate st and ardization of care , we sought to analyze the terminologies used and the various modes of diagnosis and treatment of suspected discogenic pain .