Facet Syndrome

If your facet joints aren’t gliding smoothly, you are probably aware that you may need back surgery. If lumbar or cervical Facet Syndrome is preventing you from enjoying a pain-free back that lets you stand or sit straight, it’s time to turn to an expert.



Learn more about facet syndrome:
Causes of Facet Syndrome
Definitions of Facet Syndrome
Symptoms of Facet Syndrome
Treatment for Facet Syndrome

Facet disease is caused by the cartilage in the joints being worn down as a result:

• aging
• injury
• misuse
• wear and tear

Another cause of Facet Disease is spondylolisthesis, which is when one vertebra—usually in the lumbar spine—slips forward over the lower vertebra.

When the facet joints become inflamed due to injury or age, the result is stiffness and/or pain. As the facet joints deteriorate, they also might not align properly, which can cause pain. Additionally, rubbing on the joints wears out the cartilage and fluid that lubricates them. As a result, bone can rub on bone, which results in painful back problems.

The facets are compressed when an individual leans backward or to the side, so someone with a facet problem would more than likely feel pain in those positions. Leaning to the front reduces the stress on the facets, so a person with a facet problem would probably find relief in that position.

Some experts believe that facet pain can weaken the muscles that help to strengthen the spine, which can lead to instability. Among the problems that affect facets are Facet Syndrome, facet disease and facet arthritis.

What is Facet Syndrome?

There are a number of terms that are used to describe facet joint problems, including:

• degenerative facet joints.
• facet arthritis
• facet disease
• facet hypertrophy
• facet joint syndrome

In general, all of the terms mean pretty much the same thing—arthritis or degeneration of the facet joints.

What are Facet Joints?

Facet joints are the smooth, flat surfaces of the vertebrae that interlock and allow the spine to flex yet still maintain its stability.

The facet joints permit gliding movements between the vertebrae. There are two facet joints between each vertebrae located on each side of the vertebrae.

Facet disease can occur at any level of the spine, but is most common in the lower back (lumbar) region.

Symptoms related to facet joint problems are usually localized near the area of the facet joint. This can occur in one of three areas:

• cervical (neck)
• thoracic (mid-back)
• lumbar (lower back)

Lumbar Facet Syndrome

When the facets are affected in the lumbar region, a person can experience lower-back pain that can go to the buttocks and upper thigh area and can often be misdiagnosed as sciatica.

Thoracic Facet Syndrome

When the facet joints in the thoracic region of the spine are affected, pain may occur in the central, or mid-back, region of the spine, or in the area between the lower back and the shoulders.

Cervical Facet Syndrome

If the area affected is cervical, then pain can occur in the back of the neck and radiate to the top of the shoulders and then can radiate around the neck.

Diagnosis of Facet Syndrome

Pain related to facet disease can be easily diagnosed. This is accomplished by doing a diagnostic facet injection, a numbing medication injected into the facet joint.

Facet disease can be effectively treated with a procedure called a Bonati Laser Facet Debridement.

Debridement is the surgical removal of torn, inflamed, damaged or dead tissue.

Through minimally-invasive spinal surgery, the physicians at The Bonati Spine Institute perform facet debridement by using arthroscopes and lasers to vaporize irritated and painful nerves around the facets of the vertebrae.

The Bonati Procedure uses specially designed probes and the Holmium YAG Laser to remove pain-inducing tissue in nerve branches above and below the affected facet joints on the spine.

After a small incision is made, a tiny fiber optic camera is used to visualize the exact problem area and a laser is used to vaporize the painful nerves around the affected area.

The Bonati Procedure usually takes less than 1 hour and most patients find immediate relief from facet disease pain.

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The Bonati Spine Institute advocates cervical, thoracic, and lumbar facet syndrome patients to be well informed. We encourage you to contact us to request a no-obligation MRI review or discussion with one of our medical professionals. Find out why The Bonati Procedures are considered to be among the world’s best solutions for laser spine surgery.