The use of chymopapain in degenerative disc disease: a preliminary report.

On the basis of the early results of the use of intradiscal injection of chymopapain in 15 patients with degenerative lumbar disc disease, the following statements are warranted: The injection can be beneficial in selected patients with lumbar disc disease. The relief of leg symptoms seems to be more striking than that of the accompanying low back symptoms although both are apparent. The exact mechanism by which pain is relieved is still obscure, but helpful information has been obtained from the early results of this investigation. The failure of chymopapain in carefully selected patients has resulted in only a brief time delay in operative intervention.