Intermediate
Technical
IVT
facet arthropathy
Degenerative joint disease affecting the facet joints of the spine.
Full Definition
Degenerative changes in the facet joints (zygapophyseal joints) that connect adjacent vertebrae, commonly resulting from age-related wear, trauma, or biomechanical stress. The condition involves cartilage loss, joint space narrowing, osteophyte formation, and synovial inflammation. Facet arthropathy can contribute to spinal stenosis, cause back pain, and limit spinal mobility. Advanced cases may require facet joint injections, radiofrequency ablation, or surgical fusion depending on symptom severity and response to conservative treatment.
Usage
Usage note: May be described by severity (mild, moderate, severe) and laterality (unilateral, bilateral).
In Context
- "CT imaging demonstrated bilateral facet arthropathy at L4-L5 with joint space narrowing." — radiology report
- "The patient's axial back pain was attributed to multilevel lumbar facet arthropathy." — clinical diagnosis
Also known as
facet joint arthritis
zygapophyseal joint arthropathy
Don't confuse with
facet syndrome
facet hypertrophy