Cervical analgesic discography. A test for diagnosis of the painful disc syndrome.

The cervical discogenic (painful disc) syndrome consists of scapular pain radiating to the head, shoulder and upper arm, often associated with paraesthesiae but without neurological deficit. Analgesic discography confirms the diagnosis and more accurately locates the pain-producing disc. In this series of patients analgesic discography followed by anterior cervical fusion with or without discectomy resulted in an 81% excellent or good result. Analgesic discography is the most effective test for location of the lesion in the painful disc syndrome.