title: Orientation and tropism of lumbar facet joints in degenerative spondylolisthesis.
abstract: The orientation and tropism of the lumbar facet joints at L4-5 level was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 53 patients with degenerative L4-5 spondylolisthesis and 53 age- and sex-matched normal control subjects. The degree of disc degeneration at the L4-5 level and of vertebral slip on lateral radiographs was also evaluated. Patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis had more sagittally orientated facet joints (P < 0.01) and more significant facet joint tropism (P < 0.05) than normal control subjects. For patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis, the facet joint tropism was significantly correlated with the degree of disc degeneration (P < 0.05). The results suggest that morphological abnormalities of the lumbar facet joints are a predisposing factor in the development of degenerative spondylolisthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai 200092, China. lydai@ihw.com.cn
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Dai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015984:Causality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018523:Tropism; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology*