In vivo measurement of lumbar facet joint area in asymptomatic and chronic low back pain subjects.
METHODS
In vivo measurement of lumbar facet joint surface area.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate lumbar facet joint surface area in relation to age and the presence of chronic low back pain.


BACKGROUND
Facet joint surface area is an important parameter for understanding facet joint function and pathology, but information on the lumbar facet joint is limited, especially in relation with age and low back pain symptoms.


METHODS
In vivo measurements of the lumbar facet joints (L3/L4-L5/S1) were performed on 90 volunteers (57 asymptomatic subjects and 33 chronic low back pain subjects) using subject-based 3-dimensional facet joint surface computed tomography models.


RESULTS
The facet joint surface area increased significantly at each successive inferior level. In the low back pain subjects aged >40 years, both superior and inferior facet surface areas increased except superior facets at L5/S1 compared with younger subjects. In the asymptomatic subjects aged >40 years, only the superior facets showed an increase in the L3/4 facet surface area compared with younger subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The lumbar facet areas measured in vivo in this study were similar to previous cadaveric studies. The lumbar facet area was significantly greater at the inferior lumbar levels and also increased with age. This age-related increase in the facet joint surface was observed more in the low back pain subjects compared with asymptomatic subjects. The increase in the area of the facet joint surface is probably secondary to increased load-bearing in the lower lumbar segments and facet joint osteoarthritis.
Otsuka
Yoshihisa
Y
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1653 West Congress Parkway, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
An
Howard S
HS
Ochia
Ruth S
RS
Andersson
Gunnar B J
GB
Espinoza Orías
Alejandro A
AA
Inoue
Nozomu
N
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001175:Arthrography / Q000379:methods*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D055009:Spondylosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology