The orientation of facet joints and transverse articular dimension in degenerative spondylolisthesis.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether the orientation of facet joints, facet tropism and transverse articular dimension could play a role in degenerative spondylolisthesis.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: 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.

RESULTS

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).

CONCLUSION

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.