Facet joint parameters which may act as risk factors for chronic low back pain

BACKGROUND: Facet orientation (FO) and facet tropism (FT) are two important structural parameters of lumbar facet joint. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between facet joint parameters and chronic low back pain (LBP). METHODS: From June 2017 to January 2019, a total of 542 cases were enrolled in this study. There were 237 males and 305 females with a mean age of 35.8 years (range 18~59 years). All the cases were divided into a LBP group (LBP group) and a non-LBP group (N-LBP group) in this study. We compared their clinical parameters and facet joint parameters between two groups. RESULTS: The LBP group was composed of 190 male and 252 female, whose ages ranged from 17 to 59 years (35.6 ±7.9 y). The N- LBP group was composed of 47 male and 53 female, whose ages ranged from 18 to 59 years (35.9 ± 7.5 y). Of these parameters, BMI (P = 0.008) and FT (P = 0.003) at all three levels were found to be significantly associated with incidence of chronic LBP (P < 0.05), but FO were only found to be significant at L3-L4 level and L5-S1 level (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that high BMI and large FT were significant risk factors for chronic LBP (P < 0.05), and FT were found to might be independent risk factors for chronic LBP. CONCLUSION: FT may play a more important role in the pathogenesis of chronic LBP.