[Rotatory anomaly of the lumbar spine from asymmetry of posterior articular facets (author's transl)].

Radiographs of the lumbar spine frequently demonstrate asymmetry of posterior articular facets, but this is asymptomatic in patients with good abdominal and lumbar muscles when the anomaly is only of a moderate degree. It can, however, cause rotatory instability of the subjacent vertebra leading to lumbago. It is then frequently associated with osteo-articular complications affecting the posterior arch, this being a logical consequence of a sequence of changes which can be explained by simple mechanical factors.