Shi Wen, Tian Dan, Liu Da, Yin Jing, Huang Ying
Department of Ultrasound Department of Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Aug;96(31):e7680. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000007680.
Besides the study on examining facet joints of lumbar spine by ultrasound in normal population, there has not been any related report about examining normal facet joints of lumbar spine by ultrasound so far. This study was aimed to explore the feasibility of ultrasound assessment of lumber spine facet joints by comparing ultrasound measure values of normal and degenerative lumber spine facet joints, and by comparing measure values of ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) of degenerative lumber spine facet joints.This study included 15 patients who had chronic low back pain because of degenerative change in lumbar vertebrae, and 19 volunteers who did not have low back pain or pain in the lower limb. The ultrasound measure values (height [H] and width [W]) of normal and degenerative lumber spine facet joints were compared. And the differentiation between measure values (H and W) of ultrasound and CT of degenerative lumber spine facet joints was also analyzed.The ultrasound clearly showed abnormal facet joints lesion, which was characterized by hyperostosis on the edge of joints, bone destruction under joints, and thinner or thicker articular cartilage. There were significant differences between the ultrasound measure values of the normal (H: 1.26 ± 0.03 cm, W: 0.18 ± 0.01 cm) and abnormal facet joints (H: 1.43 ± 0.05 cm, W: 0.15 ± 0.02 cm) (all P < .05). However, there were no significant differences between the measure values of the ultrasound (H: 1.43 ± 0.17 cm, W: 0.15 ± 0.03 cm) and CT (H: 1.42 ± 0.16, W: 0.14 ± 0.03) of the degenerative lumber spine facet joints (all P > .05).Ultrasound can clearly show the structure of facet joints of lumbar spine. It is precise and feasible to assess facet joints of lumbar spine by ultrasound. This study has important significance for the diagnosis of lumbar facet joint degeneration.
除了关于超声检查正常人群腰椎小关节的研究外，目前尚无关于超声检查正常腰椎小关节的相关报道。本研究旨在通过比较正常和退变腰椎小关节的超声测量值，以及比较退变腰椎小关节的超声与计算机断层扫描（CT）测量值，探讨超声评估腰椎小关节的可行性。本研究纳入了15例因腰椎退变而患有慢性下腰痛的患者，以及19例无下腰痛或下肢疼痛的志愿者。比较了正常和退变腰椎小关节的超声测量值（高度[H]和宽度[W]）。并分析了退变腰椎小关节超声与CT测量值（H和W）之间的差异。超声清晰显示了小关节病变异常，其特征为关节边缘骨质增生、关节下方骨质破坏以及关节软骨变薄或增厚。正常小关节（H：1.26±0.03cm，W：0.18±0.01cm）与异常小关节（H：1.43±0.05cm，W：0.15±0.02cm）的超声测量值之间存在显著差异（均P<0.05）。然而，退变腰椎小关节的超声测量值（H：1.43±0.17cm，W：0.15±0.03cm）与CT测量值（H：1.42±0.16，W：0.14±0.03）之间无显著差异（均P>0.05）。超声能够清晰显示腰椎小关节的结构。通过超声评估腰椎小关节精确且可行。本研究对腰椎小关节退变的诊断具有重要意义。
