Commentary on an article by Peter G. Passias, MD, et al.: “Segmental Lumbar Rotation in Patients with Discogenic Low Back Pain During Functional Weight-Bearing Activities”

Abstract

While extensive in vitro and in vivo work has been performed in the area of spinal biomechanics1, correlation of biomechanical data with the symptoms reported by patients is difficult. The authors of this study attempted to combine clinical and biomechanical information by measuring spinal range of motion during functional activities in patients with a history of symptomatic degenerative disc disease. The study improves on previous work as it was limited to the assessment of patients with pain thought to be primarily discogenic. While degenerative disc disease as a cause of back pain, discography as a diagnostic tool, and spinal surgery as a treatment are all controversial, the authors attempted to streamline patient selection and to correlate symptoms with the limited disc-assessment tools available today: MRI, radiography/fluoroscopy, …