Articular Facets of the Human Spine Quantitative Three-Dimensional Anatomy

Panjabi, Manohar M.; Oxland, Thomas R.; Takata, Ken; Goel, Vijay K.; Duranceau, Joanne; Krag, Martin H.

doi:10.1097/00007632-199308000-00009

Cited by 295 publications

(172 citation statements)

References 11 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

154

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…This paper has shown that the cross-sectional area at L5 is significantly larger than that at L4. Although the values obtained in this study were different from those reported by Panjabi et al [8] we would agree that the L5 process is larger, as would be expected and is consistent with the anatomy of the lumbar spine.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Facet joint hypertrophy: The cross-sectional area of the superior articular process of L4 and L5

Barry

Livesley

1997

Eur Spine J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

With CT imaging, the lumbar facet joints are well visualised and enlargement secondary to degeneration may be noted. We measured the cross-sectional area of the superior articular process of the L5 facet joint in 100 consecutive CT scans and in 71 patients, the L4 process was also measured. We found that the mean cross-sectional area was significantly larger at L5 than at L4. Patient age and sex had no significant effect on the size at either L4 or L5. A review of the radiological reports revealed that the 13 patients with degenerative facet joints and radiologically normal discs did not have significantly larger facet joints than the 35 patients with disc disease and radiologically normal facet joints. In conclusion, the term "facet joint hypertrophy" should not be used when osteoarthritic changes are noted on CT scan, because these joints are not significantly larger than normal facet joints.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…In particular, facet joint tropism [10] and its relevance to intervertebral disc disease has been investigated [2,7]. The cross-sectional area of the superior articular facet has been described by Panjabi et al [8]: at L4 the mean area was 184.6 mm 2 and at L5 it was 205.5 mm 2. These areas were calculated from digitised autopsy specimens.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Facet joint hypertrophy: The cross-sectional area of the superior articular process of L4 and L5

Barry

Livesley

1997

Eur Spine J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Panjabi et al [12] also demonstrated that the area of the superior facet in lower cervical levels was less than that in upper cervical levels. According to them, the horizontal inclination of the superior facet follows a U-shaped pattern (R 48.8°/L 55.2°at C3 to R 59.4°/L 51.6°at C7, with the lowest at C5 measuring R 45.8°/L 45.3°).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Panjabi et al [12] reported quantitative three-dimensional surface geometry in the form of linear, area, and angular dimensions of the articular facets of the spine. However, their relevance to traumatic facet dislocation has not been addressed in the literature.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphometric analyses of the cervical superior facets and implications for facet dislocation

Ebraheim

Patil

Liu

et al. 2006

International Orthopaedics (SICO

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The articular facets of the cervical spine have been well addressed; however, little information is available on the relationship of the superior facets of the cervical spine to traumatic dislocation in the literature. Morphometric analyses of the superior facets of 30 dried cervical spines from C3 to C7 were performed to determine any morphological differences. The angle of the superior facet with respect to the transverse plane was also measured on computed tomography (CT) scans of 30 patients having neck injury without fracture/dislocation. The vertical and surface lengths of the superior facet were significantly lower (P<0.01) at C6-C7 levels than at C3-5 levels. The anteroposterior diameter of the superior facet was smaller (P<0.05) at C6 and C7 levels compared to C3-5 levels. Although the superior facet joint surface is in a more coronal orientation in lower cervical vertebrae, the inclination of the superior facet is more horizontal relative to the transverse plane when measured in vivo. A combination of lower height, smaller anteroposterior diameter of the superior facet, and a more horizontally oriented superior facet at C6 and C7 levels in vivo may explain the predilection of translation relative to one another in the lower cervical spine. Résumé Les facettes articulaires de la colonne cervicale sont bien analysées cependant une meilleure connaissance des relations de l'articulaire supérieure lors des traumatismes avec luxations de la colonne dans la littérature est possible. L'analyse morphométrique de l'articulaire supér-ieure a été analysée sur 30 colonnes cervicales de cadavres, de C3 à C7, de façon à analyser les différences morphologiques. L'angle supérieur de l'articulaire a été mesuré sur le scanner de 30 patients ayant présenté un traumatisme cervical sans fracture, ni luxation. Les dimensions verticales et les surfaces de l'articulaire supérieure sont, significativement, moins importantes au niveau C6 et C7 qu'au niveau C3 à C5 (p<0.01). Le diamètre antéropostér-ieur de l'articulaire supérieure est également plus petit au niveau de C6 C7 qu'au niveau de C3 C5 (p<0.05). De la même façon, l'articulaire supérieure est dans un plan plus frontal dans la partie basse de la colonne. L'inclinaison de cette articulaire est, de même, plus horizontale par rapport au plan transversal, mesure in vivo. La combinaison de tous ces facteurs : dimensions moins importantes, petits diamètres, antéropostérieur et facettes supérieures de l'articulaire plus horizontale en C6 C7, expliquent la fréquence des translations relatives possibles des vertèbres dans la partie basse de la colonne et donc la fragilité de cette zone.

show abstract

“…The facet joints have a gap of 0.5 mm in an unloaded state and could only transmit compressive forces. Their spatial orientation was modelled according to measurements reported by Panjabi et al [14]. The capsule of the facet joints and the six ligaments of the lumbar spine were included in the computer model.…”

Section: Finite Element Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of graded facetectomy and laminectomy on spinal biomechanics

Zander

Rohlmann

Klöckner

et al. 2003

European Spine Journal

143

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Facetectomy and laminectomy are techniques for decompressing lumbosacral spinal stenosis. Resections of posterior bony or ligamentous parts normally lead to a decrease in stability. The degree of instability depends on the extent of resection, the loading situation and the condition of the intervertebral discs. The correlation between these parameters is not well understood. In order to investigate how these parameters relate to one another, a three-dimensional, non-linear finite element model of the lumbosacral spine was created. Intersegmental rotations, intradiscal pressures, stresses, strains and forces in the facet joints were calculated while simulating an intact spine as well as different extents of resection (left and bilateral hemifacetectomy, hemilaminectomy and bilateral laminectomy, two-level laminectomy), disc conditions (intact and degenerated) and loading situations (pure moment loads, standing and forward bending). The results of the modelling showed that a unilateral hemifacetectomy increases intersegmental rotation for the loading situation of axial rotation. Expanding the resection to bilateral hemifacetectomy increases intersegmental rotation even more, while further resection up to a bilateral laminectomy has only a minor additional effect. Hemilaminectomy and laminectomy only differ in their effect for ventriflexion and muscle-supported forward bending. Two-level laminectomy increases the intersegmental rotation only for standing. Degenerated discs result in smaller intersegmental rotations and higher disc stresses at the respective levels. Decompression procedures affect the examined biomechanical parameters less markedly in degenerated than in intact discs. Resection of posterior bony or ligamentous elements has a stronger influence on the amount than on the distribution of stresses and deformations in a disc. It has only a minor effect on the biomechanical behaviour of the adjacent region. Spinal stability is decreased after a laminectomy for forward bending, and after a two-level laminectomy for standing. For axial rotation, spinal stability is decreased even after a hemifacetectomy. Patients should therefore avoid excessive axial rotation after such a treatment.

show abstract

Articular Facets of the Human Spine Quantitative Three-Dimensional Anatomy

Cited by 295 publications

References 11 publications

Facet joint hypertrophy: The cross-sectional area of the superior articular process of L4 and L5

Facet joint hypertrophy: The cross-sectional area of the superior articular process of L4 and L5

Morphometric analyses of the cervical superior facets and implications for facet dislocation

Influence of graded facetectomy and laminectomy on spinal biomechanics

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About