title: [Feasibility and accuracy of ultrasound-guided methodology in the examination of lumbar spine facet joints].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility, accuracy of B ultrasound in the examination of joint space of lumbar spine facet joints compared with CT scan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten healthy adult volunteers were enrolled. The joint space of lumbar facet joints was measured by ultrasound. To identify the spinal levels, the posterior parasagittal sonograms were obtained at levels L1 to S1. The lumbar facet joints were delineated with the help of transverse sonograms at each level. Meanwhile, the lumbar facet joints were evaluated by spiral CT on the same plane, reformatted to 1-mm axial slices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 88 lumbar facet joints from L1 to S1 were clearly visualized in the 10 volunteers. Both ultrasound and CT measurements showed the same average depth and lateral distance of lumbar facet joint space (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lumbar facet joint space can be accurately demonstrated by ultrasound.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Chuan-Bing
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Yong-Zhong
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qin-Qin
authors.initials: QQ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Bang-Xiang
authors.initials: BX
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*