Spondylarthrosis
Contents:
Description:
Spondylarthrosis (facet arthropathy) is called the degenerative disease of facet joints of a backbone. Facet joints as well as fibrous rings of intervertebral disks are well innervated structures and are potential sources of a dorsodynia and a neck. It is shown that 40% of all chronic pain syndromes in a neck are to a greater or lesser extent connected with development of a facet arthropathy. Frequency of development of a spondylarthrosis in lumbar department of a backbone slightly less. It is considered that the inflammation of facet joints is the reason of a dorsodynia approximately at 10% of patients.
Spondylarthrosis symptoms:
At a spondylarthrosis of lumbar department of a backbone of patients the dorsodynias amplifying at turns and inclinations back disturb. Pain, as a rule, has the localized character, and unlike the pain caused by disk hernia does not irradiate in a leg and is not followed by numbness and weakness. However the inflammation of facet joints can promote formation of bone outgrowths (osteophytes) which can lead to development of a stenosis of the vertebral channel and a compression of nervous roots. In this case there can be ischialgia symptoms, such as pain, numbness and weakness in a leg.
Diagnosis:
The spondylarthrosis seldom is the only disease leading to a dorsodynia. In most cases arthrosis of facet joints is combined with a degenerative disease of intervertebral disks, and is slightly more rare with a stenosis of the vertebral channel. Considerable degenerative changes of facet joints are found in most of patients who have even moderate symptoms of a spondylarthrosis on magnetic and resonant or computer tomograms. For identification of inflammatory process in facet joints at patients with dorsodynias or a neck radio isotope scanning of a backbone is used. For confirmation of the diagnosis diagnostic blockade is carried out: for this purpose mix of drugs of local anesthetic and steroid hormone is entered into a joint cavity under control of a X-ray analysis. Considerable reduction of a dorsodynia or a neck after blockade serves as confirmation of the diagnosis of a facet arthropathy.
Spondylarthrosis reasons:
Facet joints can inflame, being a source of a dorsodynia or a neck. The inflammation of facet joints often is a consequence of their degenerative changes (spondylarthrosis). The spondylarthrosis, as a rule, forms at patients with a degenerative disease of intervertebral disks (osteochondrosis). As a result of reduction of height of disks pressure upon the joint surfaces of facet joints increases in position of the patient standing or sitting, and also signs of instability of joints at the movements (inclinations and turns) appear. The raised load of facet joints promotes premature wear of a hyaline cartilage, deformation of joint surfaces and development of a reactive inflammation. The degenerative disease of joints carries the name of an osteoarthrosis. It should be noted that the reasons and mechanisms of development of an osteoarthrosis of facet joints are identical to the reasons and mechanisms of development of an osteoarthrosis of larger joints.
Treatment of the Spondylarthrosis:
Conservative treatment of a facet arthropathy consists of antiinflammatory therapy, traction therapy (extension of a backbone) and occupations physiotherapy exercises. The last method of treatment is directed to increase in force and elasticity of the muscles creating an internal corset of a backbone.
