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Ovine Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Model Utilizing a Lateral Retroperitoneal Drill Bit Injury
Published on: May 25, 2017
Does lumbar facet arthrosis precede disc degeneration? A postmortem study
Jason David Eubanks1, Michael J Lee, Ezequiel Cassinelli
1Department of Orthopaedics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA. Jdeubanks2002@yahoo.com
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
|September 4, 2007
Summary
Facet degeneration, measured by osteophytosis, appears early in lumbar spines, preceding disc degeneration. However, disc degeneration overtakes facet degeneration in older individuals.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics and Spine Research
- Skeletal Degenerative Disease Analysis
- Biomechanical Aging Studies
Background:
- The conventional understanding posits lumbar disc degeneration initiates spinal instability and subsequent facet joint arthrosis.
- This study investigates the alternative hypothesis that facet joint degeneration may precede intervertebral disc degeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the temporal relationship between facet degeneration and intervertebral disc degeneration in the lumbar spine.
- To determine if facet osteophytosis precedes vertebral rim osteophytosis across different age groups.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 647 skeletal lumbar spines to assess degenerative changes.
- Quantification of facet osteophytosis and vertebral rim osteophytosis using a 0-4 grading scale.
- Stratification of data by age groups (under 30, 30-39, over 40) to identify age-related patterns.
Main Results:
- Younger specimens (<30 years) exhibited higher facet osteophytosis prevalence than vertebral rim osteophytosis at L1-L2 and L2-L3.
- Individuals aged 30-39 showed greater facet osteophytosis than vertebral rim osteophytosis at L4-L5.
- Older specimens (>40 years) displayed more vertebral rim osteophytosis than facet osteophytosis at most levels, except L4-L5 and L5-S1.
Conclusions:
- Facet osteophytosis is an early indicator in the lumbar degenerative cascade, often preceding vertebral rim osteophytosis.
- While facet degeneration occurs early, vertebral rim osteophytosis progresses more rapidly in later life, eventually surpassing facet degeneration.
- These findings challenge the traditional view, suggesting a more complex interplay in lumbar spinal degeneration over time.
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