Understanding Facet Joint Arthropathy Facet joints are found in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine.
Understanding Facet Joint Arthropathy Facet joints are found in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. They are the articular connection between the superior articular process and the inferior articular process of two vertebrae. The facet joint is also known as the zygapophyseal or z-joint.
Like other joints in the body, the facet joint is surrounded by a fibrous capsule with an inner lining of synovial membrane, articular cartilage, and meniscus. Within cervical facet joints there are synovial folds that contain fibrous and adipose tissue and are responsible for handling mechanical stress. The facet joints are located posterolateral to the vertebral body.
The role of the facet joint is to prevent excess spinal motion. Case Vignette A 54 year old male presents to your clinic with flaring up of chronic neck pain. You want to perform a facet joint ablation to treat his pain.
Which nerve is targeted with radiofrequency ablation of the cervical spine facet joints? A) Medial branch of the dorsal rami B) Lateral branch of the dorsal rami C) Cervical nerve root at level of the lateral recess D) Cervical nerve root at the level of the neuro-foramina The innervation of the cervical facet joints are through the medial branches of the cervical dorsal rami from the level above and below the joint (1,11). The innervation of the lumbar facet joints are also innervated by the medial branches of the dorsal rami found at the same level as the facet joint (5,11).
Anatomy of a spinal nerve In the lumbar spine, facet joint degeneration is typically found with disc degeneration. Lumbar facet joint pain has also been found to be the source of 15% of pain for patients with chronic axial low back pain. The purpose of this review is to look at degenerative changes that occur through the facet joint.
If you are experiencing symptoms that may be related to facet joint arthropathy, it is important to see a sports medicine physician. Early evaluation and treatment typically lead to better outcomes. Do not ignore pain or symptoms that are limiting your activity.
*This article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider.*
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