LUMBOSACRAL FACET SYNDROME

Course overview

LOW BACK PAIN IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON MUSCULOSKELETAL COMPLAINTS ENCOUNTERED IN CLINICAL PRACTICE. IT IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DISABILITY IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD AND ACCOUNTS FOR BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN HEALTHCARE COSTS ANNUALLY. LUMBOSACRAL FACET SYNDROME REFERS TO A CLINICAL CONDITION CONSISTING OF VARIOUS PATIENT-REPORTED SYMPTOMS, INCLUDING MECHANICAL BACK PAIN, RADICULAR SYMPTOMS, AND NEUROGENIC CLAUDICATION, SECONDARY TO EITHER ACUTE OR SUBACUTE TRAUMA, OR SECONDARY TO THE DEGENERATIVE CASCADE AFFECTING THE POSTERIOR SPINAL ELEMENTS. THE FACET JOINT DEGENERATES SECONDARY TO REPETITIVE OVERUSE AND EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES THAT CAN EVENTUALLY LEAD TO MICROINSTABILITY AND SYNOVIAL FACET CYSTS THAT GENERATE AND COMPRESS THE SURROUNDING NERVE ROOTS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ETIOLOGY, PRESENTATION, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF LUMBOSACRAL FACET SYNDROME AND REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING, DIAGNOSING, AND MANAGING THE CONDITION.