Myelographic Findings Prior To The Era Of 3-D Imaging In Enugu. A Review With Reappraisal Of Current Myelographic Indications

Abstract

To conduct a retrospective review of the i n d i c a t i o n s , c l i n i c a l d a t a a n d myelographic appearances. Also to reappraise the current indications of myelography in clinical practice. The request forms, case materials, plain films, myelographic, surgical and
histological findings on 227 patients who underwent non-fluoroscopic water soluble myelography for various forms of spinal disease were collected, analysed and reviewed. Of the 227 myelograms done, 55 (24.2%) were normal while 172(74.8%) were abnormal. The pathological states which were demonstrated by myelography include disk prolapse 76(34.2%); spondylosis 50(22.5%), spinal tumours
41(22.5%), spinal stenosis 19(8.6%), spinal traumatic sequelae 14(6.3%) spondylolisthesis 8(3.6%), congenital malformations (spinal dysraphisms) 4(1.8%). The indications for myelography have continued to shrink both in number and value especially in the developed world following the debut of the 3-Dimensional modalities like computer Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Radionucleide Studies (RN). This fact, notwithstanding, water-soluble myelography still has an important place in the investigative strategy of spinal pathology in certain circumstances and climes.