Abstract

ABSTRACT
Aim:
Lumbar Facetal Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of pain and disability presenting as low back pain. The aim was to evaluate prevalence, demographics, spinal level most commonly involved and grading of severity.
Methods:
A Prospective observational study was conducted on 100 consecutive patients who presented to the department of Radiodiagnosis at a tertiary teaching institute with presenting complaints other than the lower back pain.
Observation:
The prevalence of LFJOA was higher in females (70.21% ) than in males (58.49%); and, was more in geriatric age. The degenerative changes at L5-S1 level were seen in 59% of the cases, followed by 33% AT L4-L5 level. The lower spinal levels also suffered higher grades of osteoarthritis with Grade 3 changes were observed maximally at L5-S1.
Conclusion:
Prevalence of lumbar facet joint osteoarthritis in asymptomatic patients of rural Haryana was as high as 64% in our sample. According to our study females are more commonly affected than males. The percentage of lumbar facet joint osteoarthritis is more in increased age and the lower spinal levels are more commonly and more severely affected as compared to the higher levels of lumbar spine.

Key words: KEYWORDS: Computerised tomography, Facetal osteoarthritis, Lumbar, Prevelence, Pathria grading