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Cervical zygapophyseal joint pain patterns. I: A study in normal volunteers
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver.
Spine
|June 1, 1990
Summary
Stimulating normal cervical zygapophyseal joints in volunteers revealed distinct pain patterns for each segment. These findings could help identify the source of cervical zygapophyseal joint pain in patients.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Pain Medicine
- Anatomy
Background:
- Cervical zygapophyseal joints are a common source of neck pain.
- Accurate diagnosis of zygapophyseal joint pain can be challenging.
- Understanding referred pain patterns is crucial for diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the characteristic pain patterns evoked by stimulating normal cervical zygapophyseal joints.
- To create pain charts for identifying symptomatic zygapophyseal joints.
- To aid in the diagnosis of cervical zygapophyseal joint pain.
Main Methods:
- Five healthy volunteers participated in the study.
- Cervical zygapophyseal joints (C2-3 to C6-7) were stimulated.
- Joint distension was achieved using contrast medium injections under fluoroscopic guidance.
Main Results:
- Each stimulated cervical zygapophyseal joint produced a unique and distinguishable pattern of referred pain.
- Characteristic pain charts were constructed based on the evoked pain patterns.
- These patterns showed potential for segmental localization of pain.
Conclusions:
- Stimulation of normal cervical zygapophyseal joints reliably evokes specific pain patterns.
- The developed pain charts may assist clinicians in diagnosing the specific segment causing zygapophyseal joint pain.
- This research offers a potential diagnostic tool for cervical zygapophyseal pain.