Facet joint arthropathy

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Facet joint arthropathy (also known as facet joint arthrosis) is a common cause of low back pain and is most commonly due to osteoarthritis. It occurs from facet joint chondral loss, osteophyte formation and hypertrophy of the articular processes that may cause spinal canal stenosis in severe cases.

Facet joint arthropathy can occur anywhere in the spine and can have multiple causes, however, this article focuses on degenerative lumbar facet joint arthropathy. 

Epidemiology

Facet joint arthropathy is a common finding, especially in the lumbar spine, that increases in extent and severity with increasing age. It accounts for ~30% (range 15-45%) of low back pain 8. Approximately 50% of adults <30 years and ~95% of adults >60 years have some degree of facet arthropathy 8. Men have a higher prevalence compared to women.

Diagnosis

History and diagnosis can suggest facet joint arthropathy as a cause for back pain. Facet joint injections may confirm facetogenic back pain but there are high false-positive rates 7,8. Some consider facet joint arthropathy as a cause for low back pain as a diagnosis of exclusion after discogenic causes and nerve root compression have been excluded 7.

Clinical presentation

Patients can present with "facet joint syndrome" of low back pain radiating to the buttock, groin or thigh (often referred to as "pseudoradicular") but not below the knee. Symptoms can be unilateral or bilateral and there are no neurological deficits 7,8.

Pathology

Aetiology

Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of facet joint arthropathy but other causes include rheumatoid arthritisankylosing spondylitis and septic arthritis 6,8.

The facet joints comprise the posterior elements of the "three-joint complex" (with the intervertebral disc forming the anterior element) that describes a spinal segment. Facet joint degeneration occurs as part of this complex, and as the disc degenerates more load will shift posteriorly and facet joint osteoarthritis will subsequently develop 6.

Degenerative facet joint arthropathy can rarely occur without disc degeneration and specific causes (e.g. specific rotational activities such as golf) should be considered 6.

Classification

Two classification systems are in routine clinical use 8:

Radiographic features

Radiography is not particularly sensitive for the detection of mild or moderate facet joint osteoarthritis and is best viewed as a screening tool 6. MRI and CT can both show morphological changes although MRI may underestimate severity 8. SPECT-CT is best at identifying patients with facetogenic low back pain who may benefit from facet joint injections 7.

Findings typical of osteoarthritis are seen on all modalities 8:

  • joint space narrowing
  • subchondral sclerosis/erosions
  • osteophytes
Plain radiograph

Oblique views are preferred over standard AP and lateral views. Additional features include joint capsule calcification and vacuum phenomenon 8.

CT

Features are similar to plain radiographs although with increased sensitivity 8.

MRI

Additional features seen on MRI are juxta-facet cysts, subchondral bone oedema and facet joint effusion. Synovitis can be diagnosed on post-contrast imaging 8.

Nuclear medicine
SPECT

SPECT is highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of facet joints. However, the images lack adequate spatial resolution.

Treatment and prognosis

Pharmacologic therapy and physiotherapy are first-line treatments. Interventional treatments include facet joint injection, medial branch block, and neurolysis (e.g. radiofrequency ablation, cryoneurolysis, chemical neurolysis) are among the treatment options 7,8.

Differential diagnosis

The differential diagnosis of facet joint syndrome depends on referred pain distributions but includes 8:

  • -<p><strong>Facet joint arthropathy</strong> (also known as <strong>facet joint arthrosis</strong>) is a common cause of <a href="/articles/low-back-pain">low back pain</a> and is most commonly <a href="/articles/osteoarthritis">osteoarthritis</a>. It occurs from <a href="/articles/zygapophysial-facet-joint">facet joint</a> chondral loss, osteophyte formation and hypertrophy of the articular processes that may cause <a href="/articles/spinal-stenosis-1">spinal canal stenosis</a> in severe cases.</p><p>Facet joint arthropathy can occur anywhere in the spine and can have multiple causes, however, this article focuses on degenerative lumbar facet joint arthropathy. </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Facet joint arthropathy is a common finding, especially in the lumbar spine, that increases in extent and severity with increasing age. It accounts for ~30% (range 15-45%) of low back pain <sup>8</sup>. Approximately 50% of adults &lt;30 years and ~95% of adults &gt;60 years have some degree of facet arthropathy <sup>8</sup>. Men have a higher prevalence compared to women.</p><h4>Diagnosis</h4><p>History and diagnosis can suggest facet joint arthropathy as a cause for back pain. <a href="/articles/facet-joint-injection">Facet joint injections</a> may confirm facetogenic back pain but there are high false-positive rates <sup>7,8</sup>. Some consider facet joint arthropathy as a cause for low back pain as a diagnosis of exclusion after discogenic causes and nerve root compression have been excluded <sup>7</sup>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Patients can present with "facet joint syndrome" of <a href="/articles/low-back-pain">low back pain</a> radiating to the buttock, groin or thigh (often referred to as "pseudoradicular") but not below the knee. Symptoms can be unilateral or bilateral and there are no neurological deficits <sup>7,8</sup>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><h5>Aetiology</h5><p>Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of facet joint arthropathy but other causes include <a href="/articles/rheumatoid-arthritis">rheumatoid arthritis</a>, <a href="/articles/ankylosing-spondylitis-1">ankylosing spondylitis</a> and <a href="/articles/septic-arthritis">septic arthritis</a> <sup>6,8</sup>.</p><p>The facet joints comprise the posterior elements of the "three-joint complex" (with the <a href="/articles/intervertebral-disc">intervertebral disc</a> forming the anterior element) that describes a spinal segment. Facet joint degeneration occurs as part of this complex, and as the disc degenerates more load will shift posteriorly and facet joint osteoarthritis will subsequently develop <sup>6</sup>.</p><p>Degenerative facet joint arthropathy can rarely occur without disc degeneration and specific causes (e.g. specific rotational activities such as golf) should be considered <sup>6</sup>.</p><h5>Classification</h5><p>Two classification systems are in routine clinical use <sup>8</sup>:</p><ul>
  • +<p><strong>Facet joint arthropathy</strong> (also known as <strong>facet joint arthrosis</strong>) is a common cause of <a href="/articles/low-back-pain">low back pain</a> and is most commonly due to <a href="/articles/osteoarthritis">osteoarthritis</a>. It occurs from <a href="/articles/zygapophysial-facet-joint">facet joint</a> chondral loss, osteophyte formation and hypertrophy of the articular processes that may cause <a href="/articles/spinal-stenosis-1">spinal canal stenosis</a> in severe cases.</p><p>Facet joint arthropathy can occur anywhere in the spine and can have multiple causes, however, this article focuses on degenerative lumbar facet joint arthropathy. </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Facet joint arthropathy is a common finding, especially in the lumbar spine, that increases in extent and severity with increasing age. It accounts for ~30% (range 15-45%) of low back pain <sup>8</sup>. Approximately 50% of adults &lt;30 years and ~95% of adults &gt;60 years have some degree of facet arthropathy <sup>8</sup>. Men have a higher prevalence compared to women.</p><h4>Diagnosis</h4><p>History and diagnosis can suggest facet joint arthropathy as a cause for back pain. <a href="/articles/facet-joint-injection">Facet joint injections</a> may confirm facetogenic back pain but there are high false-positive rates <sup>7,8</sup>. Some consider facet joint arthropathy as a cause for low back pain as a diagnosis of exclusion after discogenic causes and nerve root compression have been excluded <sup>7</sup>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Patients can present with "facet joint syndrome" of <a href="/articles/low-back-pain">low back pain</a> radiating to the buttock, groin or thigh (often referred to as "pseudoradicular") but not below the knee. Symptoms can be unilateral or bilateral and there are no neurological deficits <sup>7,8</sup>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><h5>Aetiology</h5><p>Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of facet joint arthropathy but other causes include <a href="/articles/rheumatoid-arthritis">rheumatoid arthritis</a>, <a href="/articles/ankylosing-spondylitis-1">ankylosing spondylitis</a> and <a href="/articles/septic-arthritis">septic arthritis</a> <sup>6,8</sup>.</p><p>The facet joints comprise the posterior elements of the "three-joint complex" (with the <a href="/articles/intervertebral-disc">intervertebral disc</a> forming the anterior element) that describes a spinal segment. Facet joint degeneration occurs as part of this complex, and as the disc degenerates more load will shift posteriorly and facet joint osteoarthritis will subsequently develop <sup>6</sup>.</p><p>Degenerative facet joint arthropathy can rarely occur without disc degeneration and specific causes (e.g. specific rotational activities such as golf) should be considered <sup>6</sup>.</p><h5>Classification</h5><p>Two classification systems are in routine clinical use <sup>8</sup>:</p><ul>

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