腰椎小关节不对称与椎间盘变性

对54例年龄大部分在50岁以下、经保守治疗效果不明显的慢性腰痛患者，为进一步查明病因而作了CT扫描及MRI成像检查。应用CT扫描测量小关节角度并决定两侧小关节的对称性。用MRIT2加权像观察L3－4、L4-5和L5－S1水平的椎间盘有无变性。结果显示，由L3－4～L5－S1小关节角度逐渐增加。同一水平一侧小关节增大，即两侧小关节不对称与该节段的椎间盘变性有权明显的相关性。腰椎小关节不对称者，该节段椎间盘变性的发生率明显增加。作者认为，小关节不对称增加了椎间盘退变的危险性，可能是椎间盘早期发生退变的重要因素。

Relationship between lumbar facet joint asymmetry and disc degernaeration

Fifty-four patient had both a CT scan and MRI of the lumbosacral region to evaluate lowback pain which was unresponsive to conservative therapy. CT scans were used to measure facet jointangle and determine facet joint asyrnmetry; MRI were used to determine disc degeneration. The statisti-cal relationship was found between the facet joint asymmetry and the presence of disc degeneration at allthree examined lumbar levels. It was concluded that facet joint asymmetry may be a risk factor in the de-velopment of disc degeneration.