Zygapophyseal joint

From Citizendium
(Redirected from Facet joint)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This article is a stub and thus not approved.
Main Article
Discussion
Definition [?]
Related Articles  [?]
Bibliography  [?]
External Links  [?]
Citable Version  [?]
 
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

In anatomy, the zygapophyseal joint (facet joint) is "the joint that occurs between facets of the interior and superior articular processes of adjacent vertebra."[1]

A typical thoracic vertebra, viewed from above.
Sagittal section of a lumbar vertebra.

Disorders

Osteorthritis of the zygapophyseal joint may be associated with lumbalgia (back pain). Hypertrophy of the facet joint may lead to sciatica.[2]

An underpowered randomized controlled trial found one of 10 patients benefited from corticosteroid injection of the facet joint.[3] However, possibly due to the small size of the trial, this result did not reach statistical significance. Radiofrequency denervation or ablation may be able to reduce pain.[4]

References