Facet Joint Syndrome

What is Facet Joint Syndrome?

The spine is made up of 33 vertebrae that perfectly align from the skull to the tailbone. The facet joints are joints between adjacent vertebrae that are responsible for movement. Facet joint syndrome, or facet joint osteoarthritis, occurs when facet joint cartilage becomes worn and torn with age or injury.

Common Causes:

• • Trauma
  • Abnormal postures
  • Degenerative changes in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, which can lead to abnormal stress and strain

Symptoms you should look for:

• • Pain
  • Stiffness
  • Swelling

Symptoms may be experienced in the spine or extremities. If you are experiencing these symptoms you should make an appointment with an Orthopedic Physicians Alaska (OPA) Spine Team Specialist as soon as possible. Facet joint syndrome is a chronic condition—its symptoms can be treated and its progression can be slowed or halted, but it cannot be cured.

When diagnosing facet joint syndrome, The OPA Spine Team:

• • Obtain a medical history to assess facet joint syndrome risk factors
  • Perform a physical examination to check for symptoms and test spine strength and flexibility
  • X-rays are analyzed to determine the location and severity of osteoarthritis

Common Treatments:

Nonsurgical treatment options treat mild to moderate facet joint syndrome. Numerous treatment options are usually included in an OPA Spine Team Specialist’s treatment plan:

Facet Joint Fusion:

If nonsurgical options have not alleviated symptoms, an OPA Spine Team Specialist may discuss with you a procedure known as a facet joint fusion. A facet joint fusion removes arthritic facet joint bone and cartilage and replaces it with bone graft, which later fuses with existing bone. After this minimally invasive procedure, symptoms improve dramatically.

Severe Facet Joint Syndrome:

Severe facet joint syndrome may require minimally invasive treatment. OPA Spine Team Specialists perform a variety of minimally invasive procedures:

• • Injections. Corticosteroid and anesthesia medications quickly decrease pain and inflammation.
  • Nerve block. Anesthetic medication is injected near an inflamed nerve to stop pain signals to the brain.
  • Rhizotomy. Heat and radio frequency energy deaden nerves that send pain signals to the brain.