Unilateral lumbar facet joint hypertrophy causing nerve root irritation.
We present four cases of massive unilateral lumbar facet joint hypertrophy in an otherwise morphologically normal spine. All presented with a combination of low back pain and symptoms of entrapment of a single lumbar nerve root. The abnormality is best visualised by CT scanning and the results of surgical decompression by partial undercutting facetectomy are favourable.
Wilde
G P
GP
Spinal Research Unit, Harlow Wood Orthopaedic Hospital, Mansfield.
Szypryt
E P
EP
Mulholland
R C
RC
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed