The orientation of facet joints and transverse articular dimension in degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Abstract To determine whether the orientation of facet joints, facet tropism and transverse articular dimension could play a role in degenerative spondylolisthesis. MRI study of L4-5 level of twenty degenerative spondylolisthesis and age-matched twenty control group were included. The orientation of facet joints, transverse articular dimension (TAD) and cosine facet orientation of TAD were measured with two independent observers. The facet orientation of more than 43 degrees and cosine facet orientation of TAD less than 7.4 were statistically significant for developing degenerative spondylolisthesis (p