Correlation study between facet joint cartilage and intervertebral discs in early lumbar vertebral degeneration using T2, T2* and T1ρ mapping

Sites from which whiplash injury pain (acute neck sprain) may arise include myofascial trigger points (MTrPs), facet joints and the intervertebral discs. There are various methods of deactivating MTrPs; that recommended is superficial dry needling. Pain referral patterns from facet joint and MTrP nociceptors are similar, so failure to obtain appreciable pain relief from MTrP deactivation necessitates a diagnostic, fluoroscopically controlled, facet joint block. Disc pain may occur either because of damage to the innervated annulus fibrosus of an intact disc, or because of nerve root pressure when a disc ruptures. Most whiplash patients (75%) become pain free within 3–6 months. The remainder are said to have the late whiplash syndrome. This was formerly thought to be due to neuroticism or compensation seeking avarice, but it is currently considered to have a genuine organic basis. Possible causes include overlooked facet joint damage, undetected disc damage and various self perpetuating MTrP pain persisting mechanisms.

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3D Analysis of Lumbar Spine Facet Joint Cartilage Thickness Distribution

ASME 2011 Summer Bioengineering Conference, Parts A and B ◽

10.1115/sbc2011-53894 ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

Peter Simon ◽

Alejandro A. Espinoza Orías ◽

Naomi Kotwal ◽

Todd Parrish ◽

Howard S. An ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Facet Joint ◽

Imaging Techniques ◽

Thickness Distribution ◽

Cartilage Thickness ◽

Tissue Imaging ◽

Geometrical Parameters ◽

3D Analysis ◽

Joint Cartilage ◽

Lumbar Facet Joint ◽

Lumbar Facet

Quantitative knowledge of lumbar facet joint morphology is crucial in understanding the relationship between the geometry and kinematics of the facet joint as well as better understanding degenerative changes. Accurate prediction of lumbar facet joint contact area and stresses requires 3D representation of the thickness distribution of the articular cartilage of the facet joint. Several groups have reported on cervical facet joint cartilage thickness measurements using different approaches [2,3]. To the best of our knowledge, three-dimensional (3D) distribution of lumbar facet joint cartilage thickness has not been reported. Current methods of measuring various geometrical parameters of facet joint cartilage usually utilize high resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques. Although these techniques represent the most up-to-date advanced methods in the soft tissue imaging field, facet joint cartilage reconstruction cannot be accomplished with reasonable fidelity using this approach. A study by Koo et al. [1] on knee joint cartilage showed that the accuracy of cartilage thickness measurement in the cartilage models derived from MRI (1.5T) varies with cartilage thickness. This study reported accurate measurements only for cartilage whose thickness ranged from 2.5 mm to 3.3 mm, which is in the range larger than the average lumbar facet joint cartilage assumed to be around 0.8 mm. Therefore, the objective of this study was to 1) analyze 3D lumbar facet joint cartilage thickness distributions based on laser scanner data, 2) compare this method using μCT and 3T MRI.

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Facet syndrome. Minimally invasive surgical treatment. (Clinical case with a literature re-view).

Clinical Practice ◽

10.17816/clinpract81435 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Vitaliy E. Potapov ◽

Vladimir Alekseevich Sorokovikov ◽

Sergey Nikolaevich Larionov ◽

Aleksandr Petrovich Zhivotenko

Keyword(s):

Surgical Treatment ◽

Facet Joint ◽

Pain Syndrome ◽

Intervertebral Discs ◽

Facet Joints ◽

Spinal Motion ◽

Minimally Invasive Surgical ◽

High Incidence ◽

Facet Syndrome ◽

Minimally Invasive Surgical Treatment

The problem of the pathology of the facet joints of the lumbar spine remains significant and is medical and social due to persistent pain syndrome, high incidence of morbidity and frequent disability outcomes. The complex anatomical and topographic relationships of the facet joints, intervertebral discs and radicular nerves force clinicians to pay attention to the pathology of facet syndrome. A pair of facet joints and an intervertebral disc constitute a functional unit - a "three-component complex" and are interconnected with each other. The article examines the anatomical and morphological features and radiological classifications of degenerative changes in the facet joints, which are currently used in clinical practice. Facet joint pathologies are the most common nosological form of degenerative-dystrophic process (spondyloarthrosis) and a potential source of pain with the formation of instability of the spinal motion segment and the formation of chronic pain syndrome. The features of facet syndrome diagnostics are presented on a clinical example of surgical treatment by means of laser dereception of facet joints.

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Facet tropism and facet joint orientation: risk factors for the development of early biochemical alterations of lumbar intervertebral discs

Osteoarthritis and Cartilage ◽

10.1016/j.joca.2016.05.004 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 24 (10) ◽

pp. 1761-1768 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

C. Schleich ◽

A. Müller-Lutz ◽

K. Blum ◽

J. Boos ◽

B. Bittersohl ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Facet Joint ◽

Intervertebral Discs ◽

Joint Orientation ◽

Biochemical Alterations ◽

Facet Tropism

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Effects of Thoracic Ramping on Whiplash Kinematics

Advances in Bioengineering ◽

10.1115/imece2004-59447 ◽

2004 ◽

Author(s):

Brian D. Stemper ◽

Narayan Yoganandan ◽

Frank A. Pintar

Keyword(s):

Facet Joint ◽

Intervertebral Discs ◽

Experimental Investigations ◽

Vertical Acceleration ◽

Capsular Ligament ◽

Differential Motion ◽

Human Volunteers ◽

Spinal Ligaments ◽

Cervical Kinematics ◽

Head Neck

Whiplash injuries result from differential motion between the head and thorax. Experimental investigations using human volunteers and full body cadavers have described thoracic ramping due to interaction with the seatback and straightening of the thoracic spine. The effect of this motion on cervical kinematics has not been investigated. A head-neck computer model was used to determine the effects of thoracic ramping on whiplash kinematics. The model consisted of skull, cervical spine, first thoracic vertebra, intervertebral discs, spinal ligaments, facet joints, and passive musculature, and was subjected to 2.7 m/sec rear impact velocity. Vertical acceleration of T1 was prescribed according to literature. Segmental angulations and region dependent facet joint capsular ligament distractions were obtained from levels C2-C3 through C7-T1 during the time of cervical S-curvature. Maximum capsular ligament distractions during this time occurred in the dorsal region at the C2-C3 level and in the lateral region at the C3-C4 through C7-T1 levels. Increasing magnitudes of T1 ramping decreased segmental angulations and ligament distractions by less than 20% in most cases. Results of the present investigation demonstrated that thoracic ramping may play a secondary role in whiplash kinematics.

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Non-Contact Experimental Assessment of Spinal Facet Joint Cartilage Dehydration

ASME 2012 Summer Bioengineering Conference, Parts A and B ◽

10.1115/sbc2012-80930 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Loren Kim ◽

Peter Simon ◽

Gunnar Andersson ◽

Howard S. An ◽

Nozomu Inoue ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Facet Joint ◽

Morphological Changes ◽

High Surface ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Volume Ratio ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Thickness Measurement ◽

Joint Cartilage ◽

Exponential Trend

Dehydration may cause undesirable morphological changes in small hydrated tissue with high surface-to-volume ratio during in vitro experimentation that can result in erroneous data. The lumbar facet joint cartilage, an example of such tissue, is highly susceptible to dehydration due its high content of water (60% to 80% by volume) when exposed to ambient air [1]. Recent studies involving thickness measurement of articular human and bovine cartilage from the tibial plateau reported distinct decreases in thickness due to dehydration and the importance of maintaining its hydration during biomechanical experimental studies [1–3]. Knee joint and facet joint cartilage are characterized as hyaline cartilage surrounded by synovial fluid and encased in a joint capsule. The fact that both are synovial joints suggests that facet joint cartilage may show similar dehydration rates; however, due to its smaller size and different surface-to-volume, the dehydration rate is expected to be higher for facet joint cartilage. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the rate of facet joint cartilage dehydration has not been quantified before. It is hypothesized that the facet joint cartilage thickness will decrease in an inverse exponential trend and significant changes will be seen as dehydration time intervals time increases. The objectives of this study were: 1) quantify the dimensional stability of the cartilage samples under a sequential dehydration protocol, and 2) to evaluate the cartilage shrinkage rate.

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