Relationship between facet joint tropism and degeneration of facet joints and intervertebral discs based on a histological study

Abstract Purpose Evaluate the correlation between lumbar facet joint tropism, lumbar facet joint degeneration, and intervertebral disc degeneration. Methods Forty-two of facet joints were evaluated histologically and radiologically. Results The correlation between facet joint tropism and histologic, CT, and MRI grading was −0.159 (P = 0.339), 0.025 (P = 0.226) and −0.270 (P = 0.102), respectively. The correlation between facet joint tropism and intervertebral disc MRI grading was 0.346 (P = 0.033), and that between facet joint and intervertebral disc MRI grading was 0.208 (P = 0.210). Conclusions Facet joint tropism was correlated with intervertebral disc degeneration but not with facet joint degeneration.