Examination of Nociscan Impact on Discogenic Low Back Pain Surgical Outcomes

Exclusion Criteria

• •1. Subject has a primary diagnosis of spinal condition other than degenerative disc disease at the involved level (i.e., facet joint pain/SI pain);
• •2. Subject has had prior lumbar back surgery or intradiscal treatments at any lumbar level (Note: diagnostic provocative or anesthetic discography are not excluded; micro-discectomy, decompression, or laminectomy patients greater than 6 months postop are not excluded);
• •3. Surgery is planned for more than 2 lumbar levels.
• •4. Subject has severe spinal canal stenosis as assessed by the Investigator;
• •5. Subject has a motor strength deficit(s) in lower extremities
• •6. Subject has a lumbar spine diagnosis, based on radiographic evidence, of clinically relevant lumbar vertebral abnormalities (except Modic end-plate changes, which are not excluded), including:
• •* Spondylolisthesis Grade 2 or greater (up to Grade 1 is accepted)
• •* Pars fracture, at the involved level
• •* Spondylolysis
• •* Lumbar scoliosis with a Cobb angle of greater than 15°
• •* Evidence of prior fracture or trauma to the L1, L2, L3, L4, or L5 levels in either compression or burst
• •* Lumbar kyphosis
• •7. Subject has radiologic evidence of an uncontained lumbar disc herniation or lumbar disc extrusion.
• •8. Subject is contraindicated for a standard lumbar MRI exam
• •9. Women who are currently pregnant (or believe they may be at risk of being or becoming pregnant), or are breast feeding, during the study period when scans will be performed
• •10. Subject is currently receiving worker's compensation or is involved in in any litigation for personal injury, medical negligence, trauma, or worker's compensation.
• •11. Subject has a chronic disease (other than degenerative disc disease), chronic pain (other than discogenic low back pain), or psychological dysfunction, which may, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator, compromise a subject's ability to comply with study procedures, and/or may confound data
• •12. Subject has a BMI \> 40