Benefits and Risks - Discography

Benefits

• No radiation remains in a patient's body after a discogram procedure.
• Discography images the structural integrity of the disc(s)
• Discography can aid in treatment planning
• Discography is minimally invasive and is an outpatient procedure requiring no hospitalization
• X-rays usually have no side effects in the typical diagnostic range for this exam.
• Additional CT scanning is painless, noninvasive and accurate.

Risks

• Any procedure where the skin is penetrated carries a risk of infection. The chance of infection requiring antibiotic treatment appears to be less than one in 1,000.
• There are always some risks associated with any exposure to radiation. However, the benefit of an accurate diagnosis far outweighs the risk.
• Women should always inform their physician or x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant.
• The effective radiation dose for this discogram procedure varies.
• CT scanning is, in general, not recommended for pregnant women unless medically necessary because of potential risk to the baby.
• If a patient is breast feeding and must have a CT scan with IV or oral iodinated contrast media, ACR guidelines state that it is safe for mother and infant to continue breast-feeding after receiving such an agent. It has been found that less than 1% of contrast is excreted into the breast milk within the first 24 hours.
• If the mother remains concerned, she may abstain from breast-feeding for 24 hours post the CT with active expression and discarding of breast milk from both breasts during that period.
• The risk of serious allergic reaction to contrast materials that contain iodine is extremely rare, and radiology departments are well-equipped to deal with them.
• A discogram is generally a safe procedure. However, there is a risk of the following complications:
• infection of the space between discs
• worsening of chronic back pain
• headache
• nausea
• injury to blood vessels or nerves in and around the spine
• bleeding
• temporary numbness or weakness
• nerve damage