Computed tomography examination of the influence of autotraction on herniation of the lumbar disc.

The effect of autotraction on the configuration of herniated discs was studied by computed tomography. Twenty-five patients with lumbago and sciatic pain were studied by means of GE CT/T8800 scan of the lumbar spine (two lower levels), before and after autotraction. Four patients had CT scans of the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels during the actual autotraction. For this part of the study a special table was designed to be fitted into the CT scanner. In this way it was possible to study the configuration of the herniated disc during the time the traction force was applied. The results were uniform. In none of the patients could we register any difference in the disc, which retained its herniation. Despite this, good clinical results were obtained after autotraction. Consequently, the effect of autotraction is not connected with any marked change in the configuration of the herniated disc.