Lumbar Facet Joint Morphometry in the Southeast Asian Population: A Cadaveric Study

摘要

Objectives: Facet joint morphometry may vary among different ethnic groups. The purpose of this cadaveric study is to delineate the lumbar facet joint morphometry in the Southeast Asian population through direct measurement techniques. Methodology: A prospective study was conducted at PGIMER, Chandigarh in 2019. In five cadavers, facet joints from L1-L2 to L5-S1 on either side were carefully exposed. With mutual consensus, two senior authors expose and demarcate the facet joint boundaries, and supero-inferior and transverse diameter of the facet joints (total fifty facet joints) were recorded using compass and ruler technique. Results: The mean age was 80.2 ± 7.3 years. The mean transverse and supero-inferior diameter were lowest at L4-L5 (1.08 cm and 1.18 cm, respectively), and maximum at L5-S1 (1.24 and 1.32 cm, respectively). No statistically significant change in both transverse and supero-inferior facet joint diameter was noted from L1 to S1 (P = 0.063 and 0.256, respectively). The supero-inferior diameter of the facet joints on either side was persistently noted to be greater than the transverse diameter at all levels. Further, no significant difference was noted in both diameters on the comparison, on either side from L1 to S1. Conclusion: Cadaveric studies in indexed journals regarding lumbar facet morphometry, particularly in the Southeast Asian population are scarce. The current study has measured the facet joint as a whole from L1 to S1, rather than superior and inferior articular facets separately and these data are more valid, cautionary and clinically useful for spine surgeon while considering trans facet fusion particularly in this subset of the population.