Related factors and biomechanical characteristicsof lumbar facet joint degeneration / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Lumbar facet joint degeneration has become the focus of scholars’ research in recent years. Understanding the risk factors of lumbar facet joint degeneration plays a key role in preventing and reducing the damage to spine health. Moreover, comprehending its anatomy has important guiding significance for the treatment of spine-related diseases and related operations. OBJECTIVE: To briefly describe the anatomy and histological characteristics of the lumbar facet joints, and summarize the risk factors of lumbar facet joints degeneration. METHODS: A computer-based search of CNKI, Wanfang database, VIP database, PubMed, Elsevier and Web of Science was performed with the search terms “lumbar facet joint, joint capsule, articular direction, eneurosis, osteoarthritis, biomechanics, low back pain, intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar spondylolisthesis, lumbar degenerative scoliosis” for articles published from March 2018 to September 2019. Review, basic research and clinical research were screened by reading title and abstract. The studies with low relevance to the subject were excluded, and 60 studies were included in the final analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The main risk factors for lumbar facet joint degeneration include age, gender, abnormal stress, articular surface orientation, joint asymmetry, lumbar segment and disc degeneration. (2) When the joints degenerate, it can cause low back pain, disc degeneration, lumbar spondylolisthesis, degenerative scoliosis and other clinical diseases, which seriously affect people’s daily life and work, and reduce people’s living quality. Therefore, lumbar facet joints should not be ignored in the treatment of spine-related diseases.