Analysis of Correlation Between Age and Cervical Facet Joint Degeneration and Modic Changes in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Abstract

Departmental sources Background: Because facet joints move with the disc, changes in vertebral bodies occur simultaneously with progression of degeneration of cervical facet joints. This study investigated age-related differences in cervical facet joint abnormalities and multi-dimensional characteristics of MCs in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Material/Methods: Forty-five patients underwent both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) of the cervical spine. Axial and sagittal parameter changes from C3 to C7, including facet orientation (FO) and facet tropism (FT), and Modic changes (MCs), were evaluated and documented preoperatively, and we also measured the heights and diameters of MCs and performed correlation analysis and established linear regression models. Results: The axial facet orientation increased slightly from C3 66.5 (11.4) to C7 89.9 (19). The sagittal facet orientation and facet tropism increased between C3-C4 and C6-C7, but it decreased between C4 to C6. The MCs volume decreased from C3 to C4 and increased from C4 to C7. There was a gradual decrease of FO and FT from C3 to C5 and a gradual increase of these 2 angles from C5 to C7 in all age groups. The lowest values of FO and FT were detected at C5, while the highest values of FO and FT were detected at C7. Conclusions: Age was negatively correlated with the axial, sagittal, and coronal cervical facet orientation, especially at C4/5 level. The FT with respect to the axial and sagittal plane from C5 to C6 increased with age.

Prevalence and Clinical Impact of Cervical Facet Joint Degeneration on Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Novel Computed Tomography Classification Study

“…In addition, the cumulative effect of micro-injury can initiate or accelerate cervical degeneration. Significant Modic changes are a predisposing factor for facet degeneration [ 13 ].…”

Effect of Facet Tropism on Postoperative Cervical Range of Motion After Single-Level Cervical Disc Arthroplasty

“…In other studies, the angles of the cervical facet joints were often measured only through 2-dimensional axial tomographic images on CT or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). 20 , 21 , 43 However, it is difficult to accurately describe the 3-dimensional orientation of the facet joint planes by drawing lines on the 2-dimensional images, especially considering the oblique position of the cervical facet joints. The 3-dimensional measurement method we used can divide tropism into 3 types: tropism with respect to the sagittal plane (sagittal tropism), tropism with respect to the coronal plane (coronal tropism), and tropism with respect to the transverse plane (transverse tropism).…”

Relationship Between Degeneration or Sagittal Balance With Modic Changes in the Cervical Spine

“…In this study, we evaluated the relationship between degenerative spinal phenotypes and sagittal balance in patients with neck pain. While the relationship between MCs in the lumbar spine and FD is common in the literature, studies on the relationship between these changes in the cervical spine are scarce [ 5 , 12 , 13 ].…”

“…Furthermore, the relationship of MCs with FD was examined, and no relationship was observed between FD and MCs at the same level of the cervical spine [ 7 , 8 , 17 ]. However, Lv et al showed that the size of MCs was related to cervical FD [ 5 ]. With this study, we have seen that MCs, FD, and DD at the same level of the cervical spine are interrelated with each other.…”

“…Studies have reported on the relationship between degenerative spine changes such as DD, disc displacement, Schmorl nodes, and facet degeneration (FD) with Modic changes (MCs) in the cervical spine and pain [2][3][4][5]. MCs, which have been emphasized in studies on low back pain, have been increasingly associated with neck pain [6][7][8].…”