• L Proietti, G R Schirò, S Sessa, and L Scaramuzzo.
• Division of Spinal Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Catholic University Hospital, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy, proiettil@yahoo.it.
• Eur Spine J. 2014 Oct 1; 23 Suppl 6: 628-33.

IntroductionAim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of facet joints injections in lumbar facet syndrome correlating clinical results to the sagittal contour of the spine.MethodsFacet joints degree degeneration was evaluated using MRI according to Fujiwara classification. Sagittal contour of the spine was evaluated according to Roussouly classification. The clinical results were evaluated with visual analog scale (VAS) at regular intervals.ResultsTwenty-eight (70 %) of the 40 patients had clinical symptoms improvement, 12 (30 %) showed no benefit. There was a statistical significant correlation between postoperative VAS value improvement and Roussouly spine type 1 and 3 (p = 0.003). The benefit was more durable in patients with grade 2 or 3 degeneration.ConclusionsFacet joints injections have a more effective diagnostic than therapeutic value. The procedure could, however, give a temporary pain relief in cases with an overload of the facet joints due to lumbar hyperlordosis.

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