The Role and Contribution of Lumbar Myelography in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients With Lumbar Degenerative Disorders: Clinical and Statistical Evaluation of Post-Myelography Treatment of 63 Patients

Introduction Myelography is a radiological examination method that has been used for the diagnosis of spinal canal pathologies for a long time. More than 90 years of experience has been improved by the development of increasingly less toxic contrast agents. Nowadays, although there are many advanced diagnostic tools, lumbar myelography is a direct imaging technique and so it is a powerful diagnostic method for patients whose treatment has not been decided. The aim of our study is to evaluate the effect of lumbar myelography as a diagnostic method and its contribution to treatment. Materials and methods Between January 2016 and April 2018, 63 patients who were admitted to our neurosurgery clinic due to lumbar degenerative disorders and underwent myelography were included in our study. Patients over 30 years of age with lumbar disc disease, narrow spinal canal, and spinal instability, but for whom a surgical decision could not be made, were included in this study. Results After lumbar myelography, 55 of 63 patients underwent a surgical procedure and 8 were directed to non-surgical treatment options. The results of the patients were evaluated by Roland-Morris Low Back Pain and Disability Questionnaire (RMQ). Results showed that the contribution of selected treatment protocols to the recovery after myelography was statistically significant. Conclusion Nowadays, myelography is not the first choice for the diagnosis of lumbar degenerative disorders. However, according to the results of our study, lumbar myelography is an effective diagnostic tool for specific purposes.