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3D kinematic characteristics of lumbar facet joints in sitting position

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Abstract

Background

Recognizing the kinematic characteristics of lumbar facet joints is important for the prevention and treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases. Previous studies have been conducted in either the supine or standing position, and there are no measurements regarding the kinematic characteristics of the lumbar facet joints while sitting. The aim of this study was to measure and analyze lumbar facet joint motion characteristics while sitting.

Methods

Ten subjects (5 males and 5 females) performed the movements of flexion–extension, left bending-right bending, and left rotation-right rotation in a sitting position. Dual Fluoroscopic Image System and computed tomography technique were used to measure the displacement and rotation angle of the lumbar facet joints of the subjects for analysis. The movement characteristics of L3-S1 were measured.

Results

When the subjects were in sitting position, the lumbar vertebra mainly changed in Z-axis and α, β angle when they performed flexion–extension activities. The displacement of the left facet joint was 4.65 ± 1.99 mm at L3-4, 1.89 ± 2.99 mm at L4-5, and 0.80 ± 2.27 mm at L5-S1 in the Z-axis, and the displacement of the right facet joint was 3.20 ± 2.61 mm at L3-4, 1.71 ± 3.00 mm at L4-5, and 0.31 ± 1.69 mm at L5-S1 in the Z-axis. The rotation in the α angle was 6.00 ± 4.49° at L3-4, 3.51 ± 5.24° at L4-5, and 0.97 ± 4.13° at L5-S1, which was significant different. The rotation in the β angle was 2.30 ± 2.94°at L3-4, 0.16 ± 2.06° at L4-5, and 0.35 ± 1.74°at L5-S1, which was significant different. When the lumbar spine performed the activity of left bending-right bending, there were changes in rotation mainly in the Z-axis and β angle. The displacement of left facet joint in the Z-axis was 1.34 ± 2.84 mm at L3-4, 2.11 ± 0.88 mm at L4-5, and 0.72 ± 0.81 mm at L5-S1; the rotation in the β angle was 5.66 ± 2.70°at L3-4, 7.89 ± 2.59° at L4-5, and 1.28 ± 2.07° at L5-S1; when the lumbar spine performed the activity of left rotation-right rotation, there were changes in the β angle. The rotation of β angle was 4.09 ± 2.86° at L3-4, 2.14 ± 3.38° at L4-5, and 0.63 ± 1.85° at L5-S1.

Conclusion

The lumbar facet joint motion in sitting position is different in each mode of motion. The horizontal displacement and rotation are predominant during flexion and extension activities, while there are different rotation in bending and rotation. The study shows the coupled motion of the lumbar facet joints while sitting, providing a new perspective on the kinematics of the lumbar spine and the etiology of lumbar degenerative diseases.

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Data availability

The data sets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Foundation of Baoding Self-raised Fund Project (grant number 2041ZF320), the Foundation of Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University (grant number 2021Q034) and the Foundation of S&T Program of Hebei Province (grant number 21377762D).

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Contributions

JM contributed to data collection. YH studied the design. XW and SS wrote the manuscript. JW, XX and KL analyzed the data. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Jun Miao.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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The study had been approved by the ethical committee of Tianjin Hospital. All clinical investigations had been conducted according to the principles expressed in the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Han, Y., Li, K., Wang, X. et al. 3D kinematic characteristics of lumbar facet joints in sitting position. Surg Radiol Anat 44, 1289–1295 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-022-03005-7

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