Quantitative Radiological Characteristics of the Facet Joints in Patients with Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis

Aobo Wang,* Tianyi Wang,* Lei Zang, Shuo Yuan, Ning Fan, Peng Du, Qichao Wu Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Lei Zang, Department...

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Main Authors: Wang A, Wang T, Zang L, Yuan S, Fan N, Du P, Wu Q
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2022-08-01
Series:Journal of Pain Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/quantitative-radiological-characteristics-of-the-facet-joints-in-patie-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPR
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author Wang A
Wang T
Zang L
Yuan S
Fan N
Du P
Wu Q
author_facet Wang A
Wang T
Zang L
Yuan S
Fan N
Du P
Wu Q
author_sort Wang A
collection DOAJ
description Aobo Wang,&ast; Tianyi Wang,&ast; Lei Zang, Shuo Yuan, Ning Fan, Peng Du, Qichao Wu Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Lei Zang, Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 5 JingYuan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100043, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13601252787, Email zanglei@ccmu.edu.cnPurpose: This study aimed to evaluate the degeneration patterns of the facet joints (FJs) in patients with lumbar foraminal stenosis (LFS) and investigate the correlation between quantitative parameters and FJ osteoarthritis (FJ OA).Patients and Methods: A total of 171 patients with LFS at the L4/5 level and 146 control patients were enrolled in this study. The severity of FJ OA was graded according to the Weishaupt classification. The FJ orientation, FJ tropism, superior articular process cross-sectional area (SAPA), and FJ area were measured at the L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S1 spinal levels. Associations among the parameters were assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficients. Independent sample t-tests and Pearson’s chi-square tests were used for univariate analyses. The association between LFS and the quantitative parameters was also analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for age, gender, and body mass index.Results: Patients with LFS had more sagittal FJ orientation (37.9 vs 45.0, p < 0.001), more FJ tropism (5.6 vs 3.8, p < 0.001), larger SAPA (129.0 vs 97.8, p < 0.001), and less FJ area (21.7 vs 23.3, p = 0.016). Logistic regression analysis showed that LFS was significantly associated with FJ tropism (odds ratio [OR]: 1.153; p = 0.003) and SAPA (OR: 1.113; p < 0.001). The SAPA showed the largest area under the curve (0.908, 95% confidence interval: 0.875– 0.942) for the diagnosis of LFS. The optimal cutoff value was 114.75 mm2 with 85.4% sensitivity and 87.0% specificity. Additionally, a significant correlation was observed between FJ OA and SAPA and FJ area at each studied spinal level.Conclusion: This study confirmed that LFS is significantly associated with FJ hypertrophy and tropism. FJ hypertrophy and joint space narrowing correlated with the severity of FJ OA. These results are helpful in understanding the morphology and pathology of FJs.Keywords: spinal stenosis, facet joint, articular process, osteoarthritis
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spelling doaj.art-bc82a9fd7c024dce8b8a119f816bc9ca2022-12-22T03:07:06ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Pain Research1178-70902022-08-01Volume 152363237177437Quantitative Radiological Characteristics of the Facet Joints in Patients with Lumbar Foraminal StenosisWang AWang TZang LYuan SFan NDu PWu QAobo Wang,&ast; Tianyi Wang,&ast; Lei Zang, Shuo Yuan, Ning Fan, Peng Du, Qichao Wu Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Lei Zang, Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 5 JingYuan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100043, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13601252787, Email zanglei@ccmu.edu.cnPurpose: This study aimed to evaluate the degeneration patterns of the facet joints (FJs) in patients with lumbar foraminal stenosis (LFS) and investigate the correlation between quantitative parameters and FJ osteoarthritis (FJ OA).Patients and Methods: A total of 171 patients with LFS at the L4/5 level and 146 control patients were enrolled in this study. The severity of FJ OA was graded according to the Weishaupt classification. The FJ orientation, FJ tropism, superior articular process cross-sectional area (SAPA), and FJ area were measured at the L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S1 spinal levels. Associations among the parameters were assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficients. Independent sample t-tests and Pearson’s chi-square tests were used for univariate analyses. The association between LFS and the quantitative parameters was also analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for age, gender, and body mass index.Results: Patients with LFS had more sagittal FJ orientation (37.9 vs 45.0, p < 0.001), more FJ tropism (5.6 vs 3.8, p < 0.001), larger SAPA (129.0 vs 97.8, p < 0.001), and less FJ area (21.7 vs 23.3, p = 0.016). Logistic regression analysis showed that LFS was significantly associated with FJ tropism (odds ratio [OR]: 1.153; p = 0.003) and SAPA (OR: 1.113; p < 0.001). The SAPA showed the largest area under the curve (0.908, 95% confidence interval: 0.875– 0.942) for the diagnosis of LFS. The optimal cutoff value was 114.75 mm2 with 85.4% sensitivity and 87.0% specificity. Additionally, a significant correlation was observed between FJ OA and SAPA and FJ area at each studied spinal level.Conclusion: This study confirmed that LFS is significantly associated with FJ hypertrophy and tropism. FJ hypertrophy and joint space narrowing correlated with the severity of FJ OA. These results are helpful in understanding the morphology and pathology of FJs.Keywords: spinal stenosis, facet joint, articular process, osteoarthritishttps://www.dovepress.com/quantitative-radiological-characteristics-of-the-facet-joints-in-patie-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPRspinal stenosisfacet jointarticular processosteoarthritis
spellingShingle Wang A
Wang T
Zang L
Yuan S
Fan N
Du P
Wu Q
Quantitative Radiological Characteristics of the Facet Joints in Patients with Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis
Journal of Pain Research
spinal stenosis
facet joint
articular process
osteoarthritis
title Quantitative Radiological Characteristics of the Facet Joints in Patients with Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis
title_full Quantitative Radiological Characteristics of the Facet Joints in Patients with Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis
title_fullStr Quantitative Radiological Characteristics of the Facet Joints in Patients with Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis
title_full_unstemmed Quantitative Radiological Characteristics of the Facet Joints in Patients with Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis
title_short Quantitative Radiological Characteristics of the Facet Joints in Patients with Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis
title_sort quantitative radiological characteristics of the facet joints in patients with lumbar foraminal stenosis
topic spinal stenosis
facet joint
articular process
osteoarthritis
url https://www.dovepress.com/quantitative-radiological-characteristics-of-the-facet-joints-in-patie-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPR
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