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Facet joints also prevent each vertebra from slipping over the one below. A small capsule surrounds each facet joint providing a nourishing lubricant for the joint. Also, each joint has a rich supply of tiny nerve fibers that provide a painful stimulus when the joint is injured or irritated. Inflamed facets can cause a powerful muscle spasm.
Facet joint arthrosis is an intervertebral disc disorder. The facet joints or zygapophyseal joints are synovial cartilage covered joints that limit the movement of the spine and preserve segmental stability. In the event of hypertrophy of the vertebrae painful arthrosis can occur. [1]
Facet joint injections are used to alleviate symptoms of Facet syndrome. [1] The procedure is an outpatient surgery, so that the patient can go home on the same day. It usually takes 10–20 minutes, but may take up to 30 minutes if the patient needs an IV for relaxation. [ 2 ]
Facet joints break down; Facet joints may hypertrophy [28] Compression fractures of the spine, which are common in osteoporosis [29] Synovial cysts form on the facet joints causing compression of the spinal sac of nerves (thecal sac)
This is commonly known as facet joint arthritis or facet arthropathy. [3] As with any arthritis , the joint can become enlarged due to the degenerative process. Even small changes to the facet joint can narrow the intervertebral foramen , possibly impinging on the spinal nerve roots within. [ 3 ]
The facet and sacroiliac joints tend to be uninvolved. The thoracic spine is the most common level involved. [2] In the peripheral skeleton, DISH manifests as a calcific enthesopathy, with pathologic bone formation at sites where ligaments and tendons attach to bone.
Spondylosis is caused from years of constant abnormal pressure, caused by joint subluxation, stress induced by sports, acute and/or repetitive trauma, or poor posture, being placed on the vertebrae and the discs between them. The abnormal stress causes the body to form new bone in order to compensate for the new weight distribution.
Research is ongoing in the efficacy determination of artificial replacements for the facet joints of the human spine. An artificial facet replacement is a joint prosthesis intended to replace the natural facets and other posterior elements of the spine, restoring normal (or near-normal) motion while providing stabilization of spinal segments.