Lumbar facet joint orientation and osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study.
OBJECTIVE
The association between facet orientation, tropism (asymmetry of the facet angles) and facet joint osteoarthritis (OA) has been previously reported, however, it is necessary to confirm the association in other samples. Our aim was to evaluate the association between facet orientation, tropism, and facet joint OA in an Israeli sample.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty low back and abdominal CTs of 82 males (mean age 61.74 ± 12.99) and 68~females (mean age 59.51 ± 11.74,) were evaluated in a cross-sectional study. Facet joint OA was evaluated at the L4-L5 spinal level using a 4-graded scale. The association between facet joint OA, facet orientation and tropism was examined using multiple logistic regressions adjusted for age and sex.


RESULTS
Facet orientation showed a statistically significant association with facet joint OA on the right side (p=0.009) and in a model where both sides were combined (p=0.003). Facet joints with OA were more sagittally oriented. Tropism was not associated with facet joint OA on either side (p=0.251 for right and 0.609 for the left side), or in a combination of both sides (p=0.482).


CONCLUSIONS
We confirm a significant association between sagittal orientation and OA of the lumbar facet joints at level L4-L5. Facet tropism was not associated with facet joint OA. Additional longitudinal studies are needed to understand the causal relationship between facet joint orientation and OA.
Department of Radiology, Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel.
Lina
L
Linov
Alexander
A
Klindukhov
Ling
L
Li
Leonid
L
Kalichman
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055013:Osteoarthritis, Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
Lumbar spine; facet joints; facet orientation; facet tropism; osteoarthritis