What is a perched facet?

Perched facet joint is a vertebral facet joint whose inferior articular process appears to sit ‘perched’ on the ipsilateral superior articular process of the vertebra below.

What are jumped facets?

A jumped facet joint occurs when the inferior articular process of the superior vertebra is locked anteriorly to the superior articular process of the inferior vertebra. A unilateral jumped facet reflects biomechanical disruption of the posterior spinal column with/without instability that can lead to cord injury.

What are the types of facet joints?

The facet joints, (or zygapophysial joints, zygapophyseal, apophyseal, or Z-joints) are a set of synovial, plane joints between the articular processes of two adjacent vertebrae. There are two facet joints in each spinal motion segment and each facet joint is innervated by the recurrent meningeal nerves.

What is locked facet joint?

Locked facet joint is a type of facet joint dislocation that results from jumping of the inferior articular process over the superior articular process of the vertebra below and becomes locked in the position. It can be unilateral or bilateral.

What is a facet dislocation?

Facet dislocation refers to the anterior displacement of one vertebral body on another. Without a fracture, the only way anterior displacement can occur is by dislocation of the facets. Facet dislocation can occur to varying degrees: subluxed facets. perched facets.

What is bilateral facet dislocation?

Bilateral facet dislocation occurs when a vertebra’s inferior facet dislocates anteriorly over the lower vertebra’s superior facet, locking in the intervertebral foramens, creating a severely unstable fracture. 2,3. CT has a higher sensitivity for C-spine injury and is the preferred imaging modality.

What is the main function of the facet joint?

Facet joints are synovial joints. These joints allow flexion (bend forward), extension (bend backward), and twisting motion. Certain types of movement are restricted. The spine is made more stable due to the interlocking nature to adjacent vertebrae.

What is the function of facet joints?

Small joints located between and behind adjacent vertebrae. There are two facet joints at each level of the vertebral column, providing stability to the spinal column while allowing movement. They are found at every spinal level, except at the top level of the cervical spine.

Can facet joint pain be cured?

Unfortunately, the facet joints cannot heal once they become damaged. This does not mean, however, that there is no chance for relief. Many treatment options exist to help manage the pain of facet arthropathy, including medications and physical therapy.

What is lumbar facet?

Lumbar facet syndrome refers to a dysfunction at the level of the posterior facet joints of the spine. These joints together with the disc form the intervertebral joint. Changes at the level of the posterior facet joints can influence the disc and vice versa.

What are facet joint injections?

Facet joint injections are injections of steroids into the facet joints of the spine. The facet joints of the spine provide stability along the various regions of the spine, including the lumbar and cervical regions.

What is facet arthrosis?

Facet arthrosis is a degenerative spinal condition like arthritis in which bony enlargements, called osteophytes or bone spurs, grow and enlarge the facet joints. Facet arthrosis occurs most commonly in the lumbar spine, or lower back region.