Decompression for degenerative spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis at L4-5. The effects on facet joint morphology

Autor: L J, Grobler, P A, Robertson, J E, Novotny, J W, Ahern
Rok vydání: 1993
Předmět:
Zdroj: Spine. 18(11)
ISSN: 0362-2436
Popis: Anatomic variations exist in the facet joint orientation, shape, and size at L4-5. This morphology is further modified by degenerative changes in spinal stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis. This study explored the morphologic alteration of "pedicle-to-pedicle" decompression on the facet joints in normal patients, spinal stenosis patients, and degenerative spondylolisthesis patients. Using computerized digitization, computed tomographic scan images of the facet joint at L4-5 and the medial border of the pedicle at L5 were superimposed. The facet joint orientation, coronal dimension, percentage, and absolute reduction in coronal dimension after pedicle-to-pedicle decompression, and residual coronal dimension after decompression at L4-5 were measured for the three groups. There is a significantly reduced coronal dimension of the facet joint in degenerative spondylolisthesis patients compared with spinal stenosis and normal patients (P0.01). The average reduction of the facet joint coronal dimension is 34% (SD 30%) in degenerative spondylolisthesis, and 36% (SD 25%) in spinal stenosis. The smaller preoperative coronal dimension in degenerative spondylolisthesis leads to a significantly reduced residual coronal dimension in degenerative spondylolisthesis compared with normal patients (5.9 mm [SD 4.3 mm] vs. 9.3 mm [SD 3.5 mm]), respectively. Wide variations in facet joint reduction and residual facet joint coronal dimension exist. The significantly reduced coronal dimension after decompression in degenerative spondylolisthesis may be correlated to a trend to further anterior displacement if it is treated with decompression alone. Case-specific assessment of residual facet joint morphology after decompression in both spinal stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis patients should be integrated into decisions about fusion for stability at the L4-5 level.
Databáze: OpenAIRE