Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2011, Vol. 15 ›› Issue (35): 6563-6566.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2011.35.024

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Lumbar facet orientation in patients with lumbar disc herniation

Yan Guang-hui1,2, Xu Bao-shan1, Xia Qun1, Tan Qing-shi1, Wang Wen-ge3, Yang Hai-ping3   

  1. 1Department of Spinal Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin  300211, China
    2Department of Bone Disease, Harrison International Hospital, Hengshui  053000,  Hebei Province, China
    3Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Engineering, Handan  056002, Hebei Province, China
  • Received:2011-03-10 Revised:2011-06-20 Online:2011-08-27 Published:2011-08-27
  • Contact: Xu Bao-shan, Chief physician, Department of Spinal Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin 300211, China xubshn@yahoo.com.cn
  • About author:Yan Guang-hui★, Master, Physician, Department of Spinal Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin 300211, China; Department of Bone Disease, Harrison International Hospital, Hengshui 053000, Hebei Province, China
  • Supported by:

    Merit-based Technology Fund for Overseas Students, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, No. 2001-33*; Science and Technology Tackle Key Project of Tianjin Health Bureau, No. 07KG1*

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The relationship between lumbar facet orientation and lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is the one of the research focus in the spine. But that does not reach consensus.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of lumbar facet orientation to LDH.
METHODS: A total of 169 backleg pain patients were examined with CT, which were in three groups. L4/5 LDH was 35 subjects in group A, L5/S1 LDH was 67 subjects in group B and the other 67 subjects (control group) were normal in CT examination in group C. All measurements were performed using bone window CT images. The plane was selected aligned parallel to the vertebral up endplate. The lumbar facet was separated in anteriomedialis-angle and posteriolateralis-angle based on the most depressed of the lumbar facet. The three angles between left and right in one group and in the three groups were compared respectively.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: ①For groups A and B, the left angle was bigger than the right in the lumbar facet angle (P < 0.05); while the control group had no difference between both sides (P > 0.05); and there was no difference between the both sides for three groups in anteriomedialis-angle and posteriolateralis-angle (P > 0.05). ②Difference in lumbar facet angle, anteriomedialis-angle and posteriolateralis-angle was not found in the three groups (P > 0.05). ③The lumbar facet angle and posteriolateralis-angle were gradually increased from L3/4 ,L4/5 and L5/S1 in all subjects (P > 0.05); while the L4/5 was the biggest, the L3/4 was the smallest for the anteriomedialis-angle (P > 0.05). There are some associations between lumbar intervertebral disc herniation and lumbar facet angle asymmetry. The lumbar facet angle and posteriolateralis-angle is more and more coronal from L3/4, L4/5 and L5/S1 in all subjects and the anteriomedialis-angle is more coronal in L4/5, which may cause lumbar spinal stenosis.

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