title: Facet joint orientation and tropism in lumbar degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although degenerative disc disease (DDD) and degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) are two common causes of back pain in elderly, the association between the lumbarfacet joint angle and tropism in these conditions are still unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the difference in facet joint angles between normal population and lumbar degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  The angle of lumbar facet joints were retrospectively measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine whether there was a difference between degenerative diseases. MRI of patients with DDD, DS, and control group at facet joint between L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1 level were measured in axial view (60 subjects in each group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference infacetjoint angle in DDD (44.1 ± 11.9) and control (45.6 ± 8.9), but differed in DS (40.1 ± 10. 7) and control group (p = 0.010) at L4-5 level. Facet tropism showed difference between degenerative groups and control group at L4-5 level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DS group showed difference in facet joints angle and tropism when compared with control population, while DDD showed difference only in facet tropism. In addition, longitudinal studies are needed to understand the clinical significant between facet joint angle and tropism in spinal degenerative diseases.
authors.forename: Witchate
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pichaisak
authors.forename: Chayaporn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chotiyarnwong
authors.forename: Pojchong
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chotiyarnwong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000473:pathology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000473:pathology*; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000473:pathology*