• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.93-97
• /
• 2009

Anatomy: Facet joint syndrome most often affects the lower back and neck and refers to pain that occurs in the facet joints, which are the connections between the vertebrae in the spine that enable the spine to bend and twist. Many physicians have believed that the usual lesion of facet syndrome was an anatomical impairments of facet joint itself.. Facet joint injection using local anesthetics is a reliable method for the diagnosis and treatment for facet syndrome. Etiology: One of many possible causes is imbalances that can occur in stress levels, hormone levels, and nutritional levels. These imbalances can adversely affect posture, which can lead to neck and back pain. The common disorder called facet syndrome exhibits lower back pain, with or without, radiating pain to buttock and thigh due to facet joint arthropathy. Pain in the facet joint is supposedly the secondary effect of narrowing of joint space by sustained muscle contracture around joints. Syndrome: Facet joint syndrome tends to produce pain or tenderness in the lower back that increases with twisting or arching the body, as well as pain that moves to the buttocks or the back of the thighs. Other symptoms include stiffness or difficulty standing up straight or getting out of a chair. Pain can be felt in other areas such as the shoulders or mid-back area. Treatment: Non-drug treatments include hot packs, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and therapeutic exercises. Stimulating blood flow using massage or a hot tub may also help. Alternative treatments include yoga and relaxation therapy. If your pain persists after trying these treatments, a surgical procedure called radiofrequency rhizotomy, which destroys the sensory nerves of the joint, may bring relief. Facet joint injection has been helpful in diagnosis and therapy for this facet syndrome. Radiofrequency thermocoagulation of medial branches is known to be an effective method of relieving pain caused by facet joint problems. We conclude that spasmolytic treatment of muscles connecting the two vertebral articular space would be better for treatment and diagnosis of facet syndrome rather than facet block with local anesthetic and steroid only.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.292-298
• /
• 1994

The common disorder called facet syndrome exhibits lower back pain, with or without, radiating pain to buttock and thigh due to facet joint arthropathy. Many physicians have believed that the usual lesion of facet syndrome was an anatomical impairments of facet joint itself. So facet joint block has been known only as a therapeutic and diagnostic modality of facet syndrome. Based on clinical experience and anatomical study, we have concluded varying opinions from common sense about facet syndrome. Pain in the facet joint is supposedly the secondary effect of narrowing of joint space by sustained muscle contracture around joints. We therefore conclude that spasmolytic treatment of muscles connecting the two vertebral articular space would be better for treatment and diagnosis of facet syndrome rather than facet block with local anesthetic and steroid only.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.151-155
• /
• 2005

Background: A significant number of patients complain of persistent pain or neurologic symptoms after lower back surgery. It is reported that facet joint pain plays a role in failed back surgery syndrome. To the best of our knowledge, there are few studies that have investigated the outcome of radiofrequency neurotomy in the patients with failed back surgery syndrome. Methods: The study group was composed of thirteen patients who were operated on due to their low back pain, and they displayed no postoperative improvement. All the patients underwent double diagnostic block of the lumbar medial branch of the dorsal rami with using 0.5% bupivacaine. The patients who revealed a positive response to the double diagnostic block were then treated with percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy. The effect on their pain was evaluated with using a 4 point Likert scale. Results: Eleven patients revealed a positive response to the double diagnostic block. Ten patients were given percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy. Nine patients showed sustained pain relief for 3 months after the percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy. Conclusions: We found lumbar facet joint syndrome in the patients with failed back surgery syndrome by performing double diagnostic block and achieving pain relief during the short term follow-up after percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy of the lumbar zygapophysial joints. This suggested that facet joint pain should be included in failed back surgery syndrome.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.13-29
• /
• 2023

Objectives To evaluate the evidence supporting the effectiveness of acupuncture for facet joint syndrome. Methods We conducted search across 9 electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL (CENTRAL), KoreaMed, Kmbase, Koreanstudies Information Service System (KISS), ScienceOn, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang) to find clinical trials that used acupuncture as treatment for facet joint syndrome. The methodological quality of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) were assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) tool, while non-randomized controlled clinical trials (nRCTs) were assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized Study (RoBANS) tool. Results Nine RCTs and one nRCT met our inclusion criteria. Fire needle was more effective than medial branch block in terms of visual analogue scale (VAS) after 1 month (p=0.02). Also, Fire needle was more effective than Ibuprofen in terms of VAS and oswestry disability index (ODI) (p<0.05). However, in the rest of the study results, the intervention group did not show a statistically significant difference than the control group. Conclusions Although our review found encouraging but limited evidence of acupuncture for facet joint syndrome, most of the studies included in the analysis were evaluated as methodologically high risk of bias. From now on further well-designed RCTs should be encouraged.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.3-12
• /
• 2024

One of the most common sources of spinal pain syndromes is the facet joints. Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar facet joint pain syndromes comprise 55%, 42%, and 31% of chronic spinal pain syndromes, respectively. Common facet joint disorders are degenerative disorders, such as osteoarthritis, hypertrophied superior articular process, and facet joint cysts; septic arthritis; systemic and metabolic disorders, such as ankylosing spondylitis or gout; and traumatic dislocations. The facet pain syndrome from osteoarthritis is suspected from a patient's history (referred pain pattern) and physical examination (tenderness). Other facet joint disorders may cause radicular pain if mass effect from a facet joint cyst, hypertrophied superior articular process, or tumors compress the dorsal root ganglion. However, a high degree of morphological change does not always provoke pain. The superiority of innervating nerve block or direct joint injection for diagnosis and treatment is still a controversy. Treatment includes facet joint injection in facet joint osteoarthritis or whiplash injury provoking referred pain or decompression in mass effect in cases of hypertrophied superior articular process or facet joint cyst eliciting radicular pain. In addition, septic arthritis is treated using a proper antibiotic, based on infected tissue or blood culture. This review describes the diagnosis and treatment of common facet joint disorders.

• The Journal of Korea CHUNA Manual Medicine
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.51-84
• /
• 2001

Objective : The therapeutic exercise on low back found In the literatures mostly have adopted methods that are applied to only certain muscles. The purpose of this paper to classify various low pains and to Investigate an active physical treatment can be applied to certain low back pain. Methods : By exploring the journals and medical publications. Results and Conclusions 1. A goal of low back exercise is reinforcement and extension of muscles in order to control pains. 2 Low back exercise which causes the movement of the spinal joint and disk can control pains. 3. Flexion exercise of lumbar spine can be generally applied to any low back pains except kyposis. 4. Extension exercise of lumbar spine can be applied to any low back pains except facet joint syndrome or hyperlordosis. 5. Rotation exercise of lumbar spine can be applied to any low back pains except facet joint syndrome. 6. Lateral bending exercise of lumbar spine can be applied to HNP. facet Joint syndrome, scoliosis.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2008

Spinal joint pain syndrome is composed of atlanto-occipital, atlanto-axial, facet, and sacro-iliac joints pain. The syndrome is characterized as referred pain which is originated from deep somatic tissues, which is quietly different from radicular pain with dermatomal distribution originated from nerve root ganglion. The prevalence of facet joint pain in patients with chronic spinal pain of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions has been known 56%, 42%, and 31% as in order. It is generally accepted in clinical practice that diagnostic blocks are the most reliable means for diagnosing spinal joints as pain generators. The sacroiliac joint has been shown to be a source of 10% to 27% of suspected cases with chronic low back pain utilizing controlled comparative local anesthetic blocks. The treatment of spinal joints ideally consists of a multimodal approach comprising conservative therapy, medical management, procedural interventions, and if indicated.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.183-191
• /
• 2005

Objectives : The 5th lumbar - 1st sacrum facet joint is unstable area from an anatomical viewpoint, so that it is clinically major causes of low back pain. The purpose of this study is to assess the difference of the Van Akkerveeken measurement and intervertebral disc angle, Ferguson angle betwoon the 5th lumbar - 1st sacrum facet syndrome patients and sample group patients.Methods : Van Akkerveeken measurement, intervertebral disc angle and Ferguson angle were measured in 30 patients who had 5th lumbar - 1st sacrum facet syndrome and 31 sample group patients.Results :1. Van Akkerveeken measurement of 5th lumbar - 1st sacrum facet syndrome patients is statistically larger that of than sample group patients.2. Intervertebral disc angle of the 5th lumbar - 1st sacrum facet syndrome patients is statistically larger that of than sample group patients.3. Ferguson angle is the 5th lumbar - 1st sacrum facet syndrome patients is statistically larger than that of sample group patients.Conclusions : These results suggest that Van Akkerveeken measurement and intervertebral disc angle is able to be used for diagnosis of facet syndrome.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.169-181
• /
• 2005

Objectives : The 5th lumbar - 1st sacrum facet joint is unstable area from an anatomical viewpoint, so that it is clinically major causes of low back pain. The purpose of this study is to assess the difference of the Van Akkerveeken measurement and intervertebral disc angle, Ferguson angle between the 5th lumbar - 1st sacrum facet syndrome patients and sample group patients. Methods : Van Akkerveeken measurement, intervertebral disc angle and Ferguson angle were measured in 30 patients who had 5th lumbar - 1st sacrum facet syndrome and 31 sample group patients. Results : 1. Van Akkerveeken measurement of 5th lumbar - 1st sacrum facet syndrome patients is statistically larger that of than sample group patients. 2. Intervertebral disc angle of the 5th lumbar - 1st sacrum facet syndrome patients is statistically larger that of than sample group patients. 3. Ferguson angle is the 5th lumbar - 1st sacrum facet syndrome patients is statistically larger than that of sample group patients. Conclusions : These results suggest that Van Akkerveeken measurement and intervertebral disc angle is able to be used for diagnosis of facet syndrome.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.296-303
• /
• 2017

Background: To achieve a prolonged therapeutic effect in patients with lumbar facet joint syndrome, radiofrequency medial branch neurotomy (RF-MB) is commonly performed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of paravertebral muscle twitching when performing RF-MB in patients with lumbar facet joint syndrome. Methods: We collected and analyzed data from 68 patients with confirmed facet joint syndrome. Sensory stimulation was performed at 50 Hz with a 0.5 V cut-off value. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the twitching of the paravertebral muscle during 2 Hz motor stimulation: 'Complete', when twitching was observed at all needles; 'Partial', when twitching was present at 1 or 2 needles; and 'None', when no twitching was observed. The relationship between the long-term effects of RF-MB and paravertebral muscle twitching was analyzed. Results: The mean effect duration of RF-MB was 4.6, 5.8, and 7.0 months in the None, Partial, and Complete groups, respectively (P = 0.47). Although the mean effect duration of RF-MB did not increase significantly in proportion to the paravertebral muscle twitching, the Complete group had prolonged effect duration (> 6 months) than the None group in subgroup analysis. (P = 0.03). Conclusions: Paravertebral muscle twitching while performing lumbar RF-MB may be a reliable predictor of long-term efficacy when sensory provocation under 0.5 V is achieved. However, further investigation may be necessary for clarifying its clinical significance.