Cervical Spine Pathology Facet Zygoapophysial Joint Syndrome orthopaedic presentations

http://www.medilaw.tv Cervical Spine Pathology Facet Zygoapophysial Joint Syndrome orthopaedic presentations. Shows a lateral view of a normal C6-7 facet joint and its medial branch nerve innervation, during lateral flexion. The movie shows the path of the two medial branch nerves innervating the facet joint capsule. Then the capsule is irritated, and the pain impulses are shown travelling up the medial branch nerves.
FACET JOINTS
The facet joints in the spine have articular cartilage covering the bone ends.
They are surrounded by a fibrous capsule with an inner synovial membrane that secretes synovial fluid to lubricate and nourish the joint. The capsules in the lower cervical spine are looser than the rest of the spine, in order to permit the facets to glide as part of their movement. The capsule has nerve endings that are used for movement awareness, pain sensation and controlling protective muscle reflexes.
Cervical Spine Pathology Facet Zygoapophysial Joint Syndrome orthopaedic presentations.

FACET JOINT SYNDROME
Facet joint syndrome refers to a range of symptoms caused by acute inflammation (trauma, infection) or chronic degeneration (osteoarthritis) of a facet joint. Acute injury can include capsule bruising, pinching, tearing, or swelling. Chronic degeneration can involve cartilage degeneration, peripheral bone hypertrophy and joint subluxation. Any of these can temporarily irritate the capsule's nerve endings, leading to pain.

SYMPTOMS
Symptoms may include pain with extension or rotation, locking of the joint or referred pain from the neck to the shoulder or a headache. Cervical Spine Pathology Facet Zygoapophysial Joint Syndrome orthopaedic presentations.

SIGNS
Signs may include tenderness over the facet joint or the adjacent paraspinal muscles.

There are no neurological abnormalities such as radiating pain, paresthesiae (pins and needles), numbness or muscle weakness with facet joint syndrome.

CAUSES
A common cause of facet joint syndrome is weak stability muscles, that aren't able to prevent abnormal movements that in turn irritate the facet joint. Also, sudden movements, overstretching, prolonged poor posture or repetitive movements can lead to acute inflammation and pain and stiffness. Previous injuries to the facet joint, or adjacent facet joints or intervertebral discs, and excess wear and tear can lead to facet joint degeneration, which can also lead to pain and stiffness. Cervical Spine Pathology Facet Zygoapophysial Joint Syndrome orthopaedic presentations.

Sometimes the initial injury occurs days earlier. The neck tries to compensate by having adjacent joints move more than usual. However this can lead to additional inflammation and pain.

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Tags:

• Cervical
• Spine
• Pathology
• Facet
• Zygoapophysial
• Joint
• Syndrome
• orthopaedic
• presentations