The orientation of facet joints and transverse articular dimension in degenerative spondylolisthesis
Tassanawipas, W.; Chansriwong, P.; Mokkhavesa, S.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 88(Suppl 3): S31-S34
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-2208 PMID: 16862673 Document Number: 10144
To determine whether the orientation of facet joints, facet tropism and transverse articular dimension could play a role in degenerative spondylolisthesis. MRI study of L4-5 level of twenty degenerative spondylolisthesis and age-matched twenty control group were included. The orientation of facet joints, transverse articular dimension (TAD) and cosine facet orientation of TAD were measured with two independent observers. The facet orientation of more than 43 degrees and cosine facet orientation of TAD less than 7.4 were statistically significant for developing degenerative spondylolisthesis (p < 0.05). The facet orientation of degenerative spondylolisthesis patients was more sagittal orientation than the the control group, and the cosine facet orientation of TAD was also less than the control group.