What Is A Bilateral Facet Hypertrophy
The condition is a normal degenerative process that occurs in the spine as we age.
What is a bilateral facet hypertrophy. Facet joint disease which is also known as facet syndrome spinal osteoarthritis facet hypertrophy or facet arthritis is a spinal condition occurs when the facet joints in the spine degenerate to the point of causing painful symptoms. They are small joints that have cartilage lining like other joints in your body. This is considered chronic inflammation in this area. Between these joints are nerve roots that originate from the spinal cord and extend to the periphery of the body.
Your spine is a series of stacked vertebrae or vertebral bodies each containing a disc and two facet joints connected by ligaments and muscles. Facet joints traverse the entire length of the spine and are located on either side of every vertebrae. Facet joint hypertrophy or simply facet hypertrophy refers to the enlargement of the facet joint. Hypertrophy is a term that refers to the increase of an organ or area of the body.
As the name implies facet hypertrophy is a condition that stems from your facet joints. In the case of facet arthropathy it is the section of the facet joint that is. Facets are the rear part of your spine where the joints meet. Basically your spinal joints have worn out a little bit.
Facet hypertrophy or zygapophyseal hypertrophy facet joint hypertrophy is a term used to describe the thickening or enlargement that the facet joints undergo as osteoarthritis develops in the spine. Hypertrophy of the spinal facet joints is the process which is theorized to enact painful symptoms and is usually diagnosed as facet joint syndrome. Degeneration and enlargement of facet joints each vertebra has two facet joints one on each side. The facet joints or zygapophyseal joints z joints are the connections of the posterior portion of adjacent spinal vertebrae.
These wear down over time with obesity and with trauma ex. Healthy facet joints have cartilage allowing smooth and painless movement. Facet hypertrophy is the term used to describe a degeneration and enlargement of the facet joints. You have bilateral facet hypertrophy.
The facet joints which are a pair of small joints at each level along the back of the spine are designed to provide support stability and flexibility to the spine.