Spinal ultrasound tomography in the diagnosis of lumbar intervertebral disk displacement

By comparative sonographic and myelographic investigations of 61 patients with lumbar disc herniations and other nerval compressive syndromes, the value of the spinal sonography in the diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation is demonstrated. The transversal transabdominal representation of lumbar disc herniations is successful in 82% of all cases. The sensitivity of sonography amounts to 0.73 in the segment L5/S1 and to 0.92 in the segment L4/5. In connection with the neurological investigation and X-ray films of the lumbar spine, the spinal sonography as a noninvasive procedure can represent an useful alternative to the myelographic diagnosis of the lumbar disc herniation.