Orientation and osteoarthritis of the lumbar facet joint

Several studies have shown an association between sagittal orientation of t he facet joint and degenerative spondylolisthesis. There is currently no in formation available on the association between orientation of the facet joi nt and osteoarthritis. This study examined the association between orientat ion and osteoarthritis of the lumbar facet joints. One hundred eleven conse cutive patients underwent plain radiography and magnetic resonance imaging. These patients were divided into two groups: No Degenerative Spondylolisth esis Group (98 patients) and Degenerative Spondylolisthesis Group (13 patie nts). Ln the No Degenerative Spondylolisthesis Group, segments with higher grades of osteoarthritis showed more sagittal orientation of the facet join ts at the L3-L4 and L4-L5 levels. The facet joint was oriented significantl y more sagittally in the Degenerative Spondylolisthesis Group than in the N o Degenerative Spondylolisthesis Group at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels. The s everity of facet joint osteoarthritis was significantly higher in the Degen erative Spondylolisthesis Group than in the No Degenerative Spondylolisthes is Group at the L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1 levels, A significant association w as found between sagittal orientation and osteoarthritis of the lumbar face t joints, even in patients without degenerative spondylolisthesis, Facet jo int osteoarthritis, rather than spondylolisthesis, is the pathoanatomic fea ture that is associated with sagittal orientation of the facet joints in pa tients with degenerative spondylolisthesis.