Complications of cervical discography.

Two unusual cases of complications following discography are reported. In the first case cervical discography was performed because of recurrent shoulder-arm-syndrome. The examination was performed on an outpatient basis. Acute cervical spondylodiscitis developed 48 hours later and some symptoms persisted for a 15 months period. In this case the bacterial aetiology of discitis was very likely. In the second case quadriplegia developed within seconds after injection of the contrast medium into the intervertebral space. During the injection the patient reported severe pain in the arm. During the operation sequestrated parts of the intravertebral disc were found in the spinal canal, dorsal to the posterior longitudinal ligament. Most likely additional sequestrated parts of the degenerated disc were pushed into the spinal canal during the examination. Slow recovery of neurological defects took place after the operation.