Relationship between Facet Joint Asymmetry and Adjacent Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in Lumbar Disc Herniation

摘要

Objective: To analyze the relationship between facet joint asymmetry and adjacent intervertebral disc degeneration in lumbar disc herniation. Methods: Fifty patients with L4/5 lumbar disc herniation were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent lumbar MRI examination, to compare the facet asymmetry of lumbar disc herniation and the degeneration of cartilage endplate and intervertebral disc of adjacent segments, and analyze the relationship between them. Results: There was no significant correlation between L4/5 facet asymmetry and L5/S1 intervertebral disc degeneration score and cartilage endplate degeneration score (P 0.05). L4/5 facet asymmetry was significantly correlated with L3/4 disc degeneration score (P 0.01), but not with cartilage endplate degeneration score (P 0.05). Conclusion: There was a positive correlation between the facet joint angle of lumbar disc herniation and the degeneration of upper proximal segment intervertebral disc. Early correction of lumbar facet angle asymmetry can provide beneficial guidance for further prevention and treatment.