The Association Between Facet Joint Tropism and Lumbar Disc Herniation

Objective: Facet joint tropism is thought to be associated with lumbar disc herniation (LDH), but this relationship has not been fully established. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between facet joint tropism and LDH in patients (25-30 years old and body-mass index 28-30 kg/m²) using computed tomography (CT) and lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Method: Facet joint angles were measured on lumbar MRI and CT images of 24 male patients with left-sided LDH; 16 patients with right-sided LDH. Facet joint angle was measured by calculating the angle of the facet joints with the vertebral sagittal line in axial sections parallel to the end plate plane. Patients with trauma, rheumatic and oncologic diseases, additional lumbar or spinal and systemic diseases, patients with far lateral, foraminal and central lumbar disc herniations were excluded. Results: The mean left facet joint angle was 44,56º+/-11,29° and the mean right facet joint angle was 41,2º+/-11,27° in 24 patients with left-sided LDH. In 16 patients with right-sided LDH, the mean right facet joint angle was 45,87º +/-16,41°and the mean left facet joint angle was 42,74º+/-12,54°. Conclusion: In the statistical evaluation, no significant correlation was found between LDH and facet joint angle, but in the numerical analysis, it was observed that the left facet joint angle was larger in patients with left-sided LDH and the right facet joint angle was larger in patients with right-sided LDH.