腰椎关节突关节骨关节炎研究进展

腰椎关节突关节骨关节炎好发于中老年人群,可导致顽固的下腰痛和活动障碍,严重影响患者的生活质量。该文就目前腰椎关节突关节骨关节炎在形态学与生物力学、影像学、分子生物学及阶梯化临床治疗等方面的研究进展进行综述,以期为临床预防、诊断及治疗提供新思路。     

腰椎小关节生物力学研究进展

腰椎小关节作为组成腰段脊柱的一部分,常因脊柱外伤、其他疾患或减压手术而受损。为维持小关节切除后腰椎稳定性,有些作者认为,无论是小关节部分切除还是全切除。对术前不稳定的脊柱节段都应行融合术;而另一些作者认为,只是在作小关节全切除时,才有必要进行脊柱节段融合;还有一些人则认为,无论是小关节半切除还是全切除都不需要行融合术,不过他们所报道的术后椎体滑脱的发生率比较高。对此之所以有争议,其原因之一就是对于腰椎小关节的生物力学作用尚不甚清楚。本文将从生物力学角度,对近年有关文献作一综述。     

腰椎关节突关节炎的研究进展

腰椎关节突关节炎（lumbar facet arthritis,LFA）是一种腰椎常见的退行性疾病,近年发病率呈上升趋势,症状严重时影响着患者的工作与生活质量。据最新报道,大约有15%~45%腰痛是属于关节突关节源性的[1]。1911年,Goldthwait最先认为部分腰痛可能由关节突关节病变引起。Ghormley则将源于关节突关节的腰腿痛命名为“小关节综合征”[2]。Badglay从病理方面证实关节突关节存在骨性关节炎,其病理特征是软骨下骨和关节边缘反应性增生,关节突关节软骨退变[3]。此后,大量学者从流行病学、解剖学和生物力学等方面,对腰椎关节突关节（lumbar facet joint,LFJ）骨性关节炎进行了深入研究[4~6]。现对LFA的研究进展综述如下。     

下颈椎关节突关节解剖及生物力学研究进展

颈椎关节突关节（zygapophyseal joints）又称椎间小关节（facet joints），由相邻上、下颈椎关节突的关节面组成。双侧的关节突关节同前方的椎体及椎间盘一起构成颈椎的椎间关节，共同维持颈椎的稳定。近年来解剖学和生物力学研究表明，关节突关节损伤、退变是引起慢性颈痛的最常见原因之一，被喻为慢性颈痛的发动机。颈椎关节突关节增生退变也是引起颈椎不稳和神经根受压的重要原因。笔者就下颈椎关节突关节的解剖学和生物力学相关问题作一综述。     

腰椎关节突关节不对称

对７６名正常人及１７３名因下腰痛而手术患者的Ｘ线平片、ＣＴ扫描及ＭＲＩ资料进行分析以调查腰椎关节突关节的对称性与某些腰椎疾患的联系。在７６名正常对照者中有２１人存在Ｌ４～５或Ｌ５～Ｓ１关节突关节不对称，占２７．６％，而在腰椎手术病人中则有８４例，占４８．６％，差异具有显著性意义（Ｐ＜０．０１），提示腰椎关节突关节的不对称具有病因学意义。     

腰椎关节突关节骨关节炎的认识

腰椎关节突关节骨关节炎(lumbar facet joint osteoarthritis,或lumbar zygapophyseal joint osteoarthritis)是一种常见的腰椎退行性疾病,其基本病理特点为关节突关节软骨损伤、关节边缘和软骨下骨反应性增生.腰椎关节突关节骨性关节炎是临床上引起下腰痛的主要原因之一,但常被外科医师忽略.     

腰椎关节突关节骨性关节炎的病因学

腰椎关节突关节骨性关节炎(lumbarfacetjointosteoarthritis,LFOA或lumbarzygapophysealjointos teoarthritis ,LZOA)是常见的腰椎退行性疾病,其基本病理特点为关节突关节软骨损害、关节边缘和软骨下骨反应性增生。Goldthwait[1] 最先认为部分下腰痛可能由关节突关节病变引起。Ghormley[2 ] 则将源于关节突关节的腰腿痛命名为“小关节综合征”。Badglay[3] 在对关节突关节进行病理解剖研究后证实关节突关节存在骨性关节炎。系统的研究始于196 4年,Lewin[4 ] 对腰椎关节突关节骨性关节炎(LZOA)的流行病学、病因学和组织形态学进行了深…     

腰椎关节突关节的观察和研究

为评价X线平片和CT检查对腰椎关节突关节的诊断价值,通过对80例腰椎CT片中L_3、L_4、L_5关节突关节角及其形态进行了测量与观察,所获504个数据,经统计学处理。结果:不同性别同一椎体、同一性别不同椎体关节角均有显著差异,L_3、L_4关节突关节形态多为浅弧形,L_5则多为直线形。同时关节角的大小和形态个体变异较大。表明X线对关节突关节病变的诊断价值有限,而CT扫描能较全面客观地反映关节突关节,为临床提供较可靠诊断依据。     

腰椎关节突关节骨性关节炎对腰椎稳定性的影响

目的探讨腰椎退变过程中,腰椎间盘退变、关节突关节骨性关节炎与腰椎稳定性之间的关系.方法对78名腰椎退变患者进行腰椎MRI和动力位X线摄影.腰椎不稳分为椎间角度运动不稳、旋转不稳和椎间位移不稳,其中椎间位移不稳细分为前向不稳、后向不稳和前后向不稳.腰椎间盘退变依据矢状位T2加权像分为5级;关节突关节骨性关节炎依据水平位T1加权像分为4级.对资料进行统计分析.结果腰椎椎间角度运动不稳和前后向椎间位移不稳与关节突关节骨性关节炎存在显著负相关,前向椎间位移不稳与腰椎关节突关节骨性关节炎和椎间盘退变呈显著正相关,腰椎矢状面旋转不稳与腰椎关节突关节骨性关节炎无显著相关.结论腰椎间盘退变和腰椎关节突关节骨性关节炎可影响腰椎运动节段的稳定性.     

小关节源性腰痛的研究进展

正腰痛(low back pain,LBP)在骨科门诊中是非常常见的症状,并已成为引起劳动力丧失的一个主要因素,给社会经济带来了巨大负担~([1、2])。由于导致腰痛的原因复杂,以往的研究主要集中在椎间盘,而小关节病变引起腰痛的机制研究却很少报道。随着CT和MRI等检查方法的进步及各种微创技术的发展,小关节源性腰痛(lumbar facet joint pain)也越来越引起大家的关注。有文献报道~([4]),15%~52%     

退行性腰椎侧凸生物力学的研究进展

退行性腰椎侧凸（DLS）的发生、发展与腰椎生物力学性能的改变关系密切。椎间盘、小关节以及腰椎肌肉群不同程度的退变均可能引起腰椎节段受力不平衡,形成腰椎侧凸,进而进一步增加腰椎承受的负重,并改变其受力方向,二者形成恶性循环,加重病情。该文就腰椎整体、椎间盘、小关节以及腰椎肌肉群的生物力学性能改变及其与DLS之间的关系加以综述,为DLS的临床治疗提供理论基础。     

Pathological studies on the lumbar facet joints]

Relationship between changes of the bony architecture and remodeling in the facet joints of the lumbar spine was studied in cadaveric specimens, using the method of microradiography. The facetal angle was 59 degrees at L1-2, 65 degrees at L2-3, 75 degrees at L3-4 and 92 degrees at L4-5. The subchondral compact bone volume was higher at the anterior part in all cases. The greater compact bone volume was found in the more sagittally facing facets, asymmetrical facets and facets with disc degeneration. Highly mineralized tissues in the trabeculae were observed in the degenerative facets. These tissues consisted of old calcified fibrocartilage, left alone as the result of continued remodeling. The degenerative changes in the lumbar facet joints probably start as calcification of the part where the ligamentum flavum attaches, followed by new bone formation and transformation of the joints.     

腰椎小关节骨性关节炎危险因素的研究进展

腰椎小关节骨性关节炎是导致下腰痛的常见病因.本文综述了腰椎小关节骨性关节炎的危险因素.通过对相关研究的综合和分析,笔者认为:年龄大于50岁、男性或绝经后女性、偏向矢状面的腰椎小关节和腰椎间盘退变、L4、5节段是腰椎小关节骨性关节炎的危险因素.认识和理解腰椎小关节骨性关节炎的危险因素能对下腰痛的诊断和治疗提供帮助.     

Avascular necrosis of lumbar facet joints associated with bilateral facet fractures

Background contextAvascular necrosis is a commonly described condition caused by a disruption of blood supply to the bones, resulting in necrosis. Although common in joints of the extremities, it is seen less often in the spine. Risk factors for avascular necrosis include steroid use, alcohol consumption, smoking, scuba diving, thrombosis, hypercoagulability, and hypertension.PurposeThe purpose was to report an unprecedented case of avascular necrosis of the lumbar facet joints and bilateral facet fractures.Study designThis is a case report.MethodsThe patient underwent L3–S1 decompression and L5–S1 discectomy, during which time avascular necrosis of the superior articular process of the L3–L4 facet joints was discovered. The patient then underwent spinal fusion with pedicle screw instrumentation. Pathologic examination of both right and left facet joints confirmed the diagnosis of avascular necrosis.ResultsAt 19-month follow up, the patient's leg and back pain had significantly improved. His spine appeared fused with no instability or implant failure.ConclusionWe have presented a case of avascular necrosis of L3–L4 facet joints resulting in fracture and instability at the L3–L4 level of the spine, which was stabilized with an L3–L4 pedicle screw spinal fusion.     

Translaminar screw fixation of the lumbar facet joints

Surgical Principle Posterior fusion of one or two levels of the lumbar spine with arthrodesis of the facet joints using screws. The technique has been developed by one of us (Magerl [10–13]). It constitutes an improvement of a technique of transarticular screw fixation first described by King in 1944 [7, 8] and modified by Boucher [3] (Figures 1a to 1c).     

Pain generation in lumbar and cervical facet joints

Facet joints are implicated as a major source of neck and low-back pain. Both cervical and lumbar facet syndromes have been described in the medical literature. Biomechanical studies have shown that lumbar and cervical facet-joint capsules can undergo high strains during spine-loading. Neuroanatomic studies have demonstrated free and encapsulated nerve endings in facet joints as well as nerves containing substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide. Neurophysiologic studies have shown that facet-joint capsules contain low-threshold mechanoreceptors, mechanically sensitive nociceptors, and silent nociceptors. Inflammation leads to decreased thresholds of nerve endings in facet capsules as well as elevated baseline discharge rates. Recent biomechanical studies suggest that rear-end motor-vehicle impacts give rise to excessive deformation of the capsules of lower cervical facet joints. Still unresolved is whether this stretch is sufficient to activate nociceptors in the joint capsule. To answer this question, recent studies indicate that low stretch levels activate proprioceptors in the facet-joint capsule. Excessive capsule stretch activates nociceptors, leads to prolonged neural afterdischarges, and can cause damage to the capsule and to axons in the capsule. In instances in which a whiplash event is severe enough to injure the joint capsule, facet capsule overstretch is a possible cause of persistent neck pain.     

Disc space narrowing and the lumbar facet joints

Cadaveric lumbar spine specimens of "motion segments", each including two vertebrae and the linking disc and facet joints, were compressed. The pressure across the facet joints was measured using interposed pressure-recording paper. This was repeated for 12 pairs of facet joints at four angles of posture and with three different disc heights. The results were that pressure between the facets increased significantly with narrowing of the disc space and with increasing angles of extension. Extra-articular impingement was found to be caused, or worsened, by disc space narrowing. Increased pressure or impingement may be a source of pain in patients with reduced disc spaces.     

Septic arthritis of lumbar facet joints without predisposing infection

Septic arthritis of a lumbar facet joint is a rare clinical entity and most articles have reported a single case. There have been few studies that have evaluated the clinical and imaging features of septic arthritis of lumbar facet joints. The clinical data of 5 patients diagnosed with septic arthritis of lumbar facet joints were retrospectively studied. The average age of 5 patients was 73.6 years. All patients had elevated temperature at admission (37.7 degrees C). Leukocyte count was tested in all 5 patients and was elevated in only 2 patients. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were examined and were elevated in all 5 cases. Magnetic resonance imaging was accurate in identifying the septic joint and associated abscess formation. All patients were treated with bed rest and received intravenous antibiotics for an average of 33.3 days. Four of 5 patients had positive outcomes with full recoveries and no evidence of recurrent infections. One patient exhibited evidence of recurrent infection and required open facet arthrotomy and paraspinal muscle debridement after intravenous administration of antibiotics. Septic arthritis of the lumbar facet joint is a rare cause of low back pain. It is important to ascertain the diagnosis at the earliest possible stage and to start intravenous antibiotics therapy as soon as possible. Magnetic resonance imaging is quite a sensitive modality for identifying infection of the lumbar facet joint. Familiarity with its clinical symptoms and radiographic features is necessary to avoid misdiagnosis of this condition.