Facet Joint Orientation and Tropism in Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease and Spondylolisthesis

Witchate Pichaisak MD, FRCOST*, Chayaporn Chotiyarnwong MD**, Pojchong Chotiyarnwong MD, PhD, FRCOST*

Affiliation : * Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand ** Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

Background : Although degenerative disc disease (DDD) and degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) are two common causes of back pain in elderly, the association between the lumbar facet joint angle and tropism in these conditions are still unclear.
Objective : To evaluate the difference in facet joint angles between normal population and lumbar degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis patient. Material and Method: The angle of lumbar facet joints were retrospectively measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine whether there was a difference between degenerative diseases. MRI of patients with DDD, DS, and control group at facet joint between L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1 level were measured in axial view (60 subjects in each group).
Results : There was no difference in facet joint angle in DDD (44.111.9) and control (45.68.9), but differed in DS (40.110.7) and control group (p = 0.010) at L4-5 level. Facet tropism showed difference between degenerative groups and control group at L4-5 level.
Conclusion : DS group showed difference in facet joints angle and tropism when compared with control population, while DDD showed difference only in facet tropism. In addition, longitudinal studies are needed to understand the clinical significant between facet joint angle and tropism in spinal degenerative diseases.

Keywords : Facet joint orientation, Tropism, Degenerative disc disease (DDD), Degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS)

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