Research progress of spontaneous facet fusion after lumbar spine surgery_Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery

Authors：

PU Xingxiao , ZHAO Long , WANG Xiandi ,  ZENG Jiancheng

Department of Orthopedics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu Sichuan, 610041, P. R. China;

Corresponding author：

ZENG Jiancheng, Email: tomzeng5@163.com

Keywords：

Spontaneous facet fusion; influencing factor; lumbar fixation; lumbar fusion

DOI：

10.7507/1002-1892.202111097

Video：

Export PDF Favorites Scan Get Citation

Abstract Full text Figures/Tables Video References Cited by

Objective To summarize the research progress on spontaneous facet fusion (SFF) after lumbar spine surgery, and provide reference for further research on SFF. Methods The definition, development, clinical significance, and related influence factors of SFF were throughout reviewed by referring to relevant domestic and foreign literature in recent years. Results SFF is a phenomenon of joint space disappearance and fusion of upper and lower articular processes, which starts in a ring shape from the outermost edges to the central regions. Currently reported SFF occurred after posterior lumbar pedicle screw fixation. SFF may increase the stability of surgical segments and relieve clinical symptoms of patients. SFF is closely related to the method of lumbar internal fixation, facet osteoarthritis, interbody fusion, age, body mass index, type B fracture (according to AO classification), and the operative segment. Conclusion Most reported SFF occur after posterior lumbar pedicle screw fixation, which can increase lumbar stability, but the mechanism and influencing factors remain to be further clarified.

Citation： PU Xingxiao, ZHAO Long, WANG Xiandi, ZENG Jiancheng. Research progress of spontaneous facet fusion after lumbar spine surgery. Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery, 2022, 36(4): 500-504. doi: 10.7507/1002-1892.202111097 Copy

1.	Gellhorn AC, Katz JN, Suri P. Osteoarthritis of the spine: the facet joints. Nat Rev Rheumatol, 2013, 9(4): 216-224.
2.	Said E, Abdel-Wanis ME, Ameen M, et al. Posterolateral fusion versus posterior lumbar interbody fusion: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Global Spine J, 2021. doi: 10.1177/21925682211016426.
3.	Goel A, Ranjan S, Shah A, et al. Lumbar canal stenosis: analyzing the role of stabilization and the futility of decompression as treatment. Neurosurg Focus, 2019, 46(5): E7. doi: 10.3171/2019.2.FOCUS18726.
4.	Chan V, Nataraj A, Bailey C, et al. Comparison of clinical outcomes between posterior instrumented fusion with and without interbody fusion for isthmic spondylolisthesis. Clin Spine Surg, 2021, 34(1): E13-E18.
5.	Chen YC, Zhang L, Li EN, et al. Comparison of posterolateral fusion and posterior lumbar interbody fusion in the treatment of lumbar spondylolithesis: A meta-analysis. J Invest Surg, 2019, 32(4): 290-297.
6.	McAnany SJ, Baird EO, Qureshi SA, et al. Posterolateral fusion versus interbody fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 2016, 41(23): E1408-E1414.
7.	Goel A, Jadhav N, Shah A, et al. Adult idiopathic de novo lumbar scoliosis: Analysis of surgical treatment in 14 patients by “only fixation”. J Craniovertebr Junction Spine, 2020, 11(2): 124-130.
8.	Goel A, Bhambere S, Shah A, et al. Lumbar canal stenosis in “young”-How does it differ from that in “old”-An analysis of 116 surgically treated cases. J Craniovertebr Junction Spine, 2021, 12(2): 123-128.
9.	Meleis A, Larkin MB, Bastos DCA, et al. Single-center outcomes for percutaneous pedicle screw fixation in metastatic spinal lesions: can spontaneous facet fusion occur? Neurosurg Focus, 2021, 50(5): E9. doi: 10.3171/2021.1.FOCUS20671.
10.	Izeki M, Fujio K, Ota S, et al. Radiological follow-up of the degenerated facet joints after lateral lumbar interbody fusion with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation: Focus on spontaneous facet joint fusion. J Orthop Sci, 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.jos.2021.06.018.
11.	Tromme A, Charles YP, Schuller S, et al. Osteoarthritis and spontaneous fusion of facet joints after percutaneous instrumentation in thoracolumbar fractures. Eur Spine J, 2019, 28(5): 1121-1129.
12.	Gazzeri R, Panagiotopoulos K, Princiotto S, et al. Spontaneous spinal arthrodesis in stand-alone percutaneous pedicle screw fixation without in situ fusion in patients with lumbar segmental instability: Long-term clinical, radiologic, and functional outcomes. World Neurosurg, 2018, 110: e1040-e1048.
13.	Charles YP, Walter A, Schuller S, et al. Temporary percutaneous instrumentation and selective anterior fusion for thoracolumbar fractures. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 2017, 42(9): E523-E531.
14.	Kim KW, Ha KY, Moon MS, et al. Fate of the facet joints after instrumented intertransverse process fusion. Clin Orthop Relat Res, 1999, (366): 110-119.
15.	Akbarnia BA, Crandall DG, Burkus K, et al. Use of long rods and a short arthrodesis for burst fractures of the thoracolumbar spine. A long-term follow-up study. J Bone Joint Surg (Am), 1994, 76(11): 1629-1635.
16.	Gardner VO, Armstrong GW. Long-term lumbar facet joint changes in spinal fracture patients treated with Harrington rods. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 1990, 15(6): 479-484.
17.	Proietti L, Perna A, Ricciardi L, et al. Radiological evaluation of fusion patterns after lateral lumbar interbody fusion: institutional case series. Radiol Med, 2021, 126(2): 250-257.
18.	Pathria M, Sartoris DJ, Resnick D. Osteoarthritis of the facet joints: accuracy of oblique radiographic assessment. Radiology, 1987, 164(1): 227-230.
19.	Huang KT, Adogwa O, Babu R, et al. Radiological evidence of spontaneous spinal arthrodesis in patients with lower lumbar spondylolisthesis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 2014, 39(8): 656-663.
20.	Sestero AM, Perra JH. A case report of severe kyphoscoliosis and autofusion of the posterior elements in two siblings with central core disease. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 2005, 30(2): E50-E55.
21.	Tan S, Yao J, Flynn JA, et al. Zygapophyseal joint fusion in ankylosing spondylitis assessed by computed tomography: Associations with syndesmophytes and spinal motion. J Rheumatol, 2017, 44(7): 1004-1010.
22.	Bleil J, Maier R, Hempfing A, et al. Histomorphologic and histomorphometric characteristics of zygapophyseal joint remodeling in ankylosing spondylitis. Arthritis Rheumatol, 2014, 66(7): 1745-1754.
23.	Satake K, Kanemura T, Nakashima H, et al. Nonunion of transpsoas lateral lumbar interbody fusion using an allograft: Clinical assessment and risk factors. Spine Surg Relat Res, 2018, 2(4): 270-277.
24.	Bridwell KH, Sedgewick TA, O’Brien MF, et al. The role of fusion and instrumentation in the treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis. J Spinal Disord, 1993, 6(6): 461-472.
25.	Goel A. Only fixation for lumbar canal stenosis: Report of an experience with seven cases. J Craniovertebr Junction Spine, 2014, 5(1): 15-19.
26.	Goel A, Goel AA, Satoskar SR, et al. Double insurance transfacetal screws for lumbar spinal stabilization. J Craniovertebr Junction Spine, 2014, 5(2): 85-87.
27.	Reid JJ, Johnson JS, Wang JC. Challenges to bone formation in spinal fusion. J Biomech, 2011, 44(2): 213-220.
28.	Dantas F, Dantas FLR, Botelho RV. Effect of interbody fusion compared with posterolateral fusion on lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Spine J, 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2021.12.001.
29.	Ziroglu N, Duramaz A, Bayrak A. Comparison of functional and radiological outcomes of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion and posterolateral fusion techniques in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis. Z Orthop Unfall, 2021. doi: 10.1055/a-1471-8622.
30.	杨斐, 张建鹏, 郝建, 等. 腰椎小关节植骨融合术与横突间植骨融合术治疗腰椎爆裂骨折临床疗效及安全性比较. 中国临床医生杂志, 2021, 49(7): 842-845.
31.	Kahanovitz N, Arnoczky SP, Levine DB, et al. The effects of internal fixation on the articular cartilage of unfused canine facet joint cartilage. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 1984, 9(3): 268-272.
32.	Proietti L, Scaramuzzo L, Schirò GR, et al. Degenerative facet joint changes in lumbar percutaneous pedicle screw fixation without fusion. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res, 2015, 101(3): 375-379.
33.	Hiyama A, Katoh H, Sakai D, et al. Facet joint violation after single-position versus dual-position lateral interbody fusion and percutaneous pedicle screw fixation: A comparison of two techniques. J Clin Neurosci, 2020, 78: 47-52.
34.	Chen Z, Zhao J, Xu H, et al. Technical factors related to the incidence of adjacent superior segment facet joint violation after transpedicular instrumentation in the lumbar spine. Eur Spine J, 2008, 17(11): 1476-1480.
35.	Moshirfar A, Jenis LG, Spector LR, et al. Computed tomography evaluation of superior-segment facet-joint violation after pedicle instrumentation of the lumbar spine with a midline surgical approach. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 2006, 31(22): 2624-2629.
36.	Weishaupt D, Zanetti M, Boos N, et al. MR imaging and CT in osteoarthritis of the lumbar facet joints. Skeletal Radiol, 1999, 28(4): 215-219.
37.	Netzer C, Urech K, Hügle T, et al. Characterization of subchondral bone histopathology of facet joint osteoarthritis in lumbar spinal stenosis. J Orthop Res, 2016, 34(8): 1475-1480.

1. Gellhorn AC, Katz JN, Suri P. Osteoarthritis of the spine: the facet joints. Nat Rev Rheumatol, 2013, 9(4): 216-224.
2. Said E, Abdel-Wanis ME, Ameen M, et al. Posterolateral fusion versus posterior lumbar interbody fusion: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Global Spine J, 2021. doi: 10.1177/21925682211016426.
3. Goel A, Ranjan S, Shah A, et al. Lumbar canal stenosis: analyzing the role of stabilization and the futility of decompression as treatment. Neurosurg Focus, 2019, 46(5): E7. doi: 10.3171/2019.2.FOCUS18726.
4. Chan V, Nataraj A, Bailey C, et al. Comparison of clinical outcomes between posterior instrumented fusion with and without interbody fusion for isthmic spondylolisthesis. Clin Spine Surg, 2021, 34(1): E13-E18.
5. Chen YC, Zhang L, Li EN, et al. Comparison of posterolateral fusion and posterior lumbar interbody fusion in the treatment of lumbar spondylolithesis: A meta-analysis. J Invest Surg, 2019, 32(4): 290-297.
6. McAnany SJ, Baird EO, Qureshi SA, et al. Posterolateral fusion versus interbody fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 2016, 41(23): E1408-E1414.
7. Goel A, Jadhav N, Shah A, et al. Adult idiopathic de novo lumbar scoliosis: Analysis of surgical treatment in 14 patients by “only fixation”. J Craniovertebr Junction Spine, 2020, 11(2): 124-130.
8. Goel A, Bhambere S, Shah A, et al. Lumbar canal stenosis in “young”-How does it differ from that in “old”-An analysis of 116 surgically treated cases. J Craniovertebr Junction Spine, 2021, 12(2): 123-128.
9. Meleis A, Larkin MB, Bastos DCA, et al. Single-center outcomes for percutaneous pedicle screw fixation in metastatic spinal lesions: can spontaneous facet fusion occur? Neurosurg Focus, 2021, 50(5): E9. doi: 10.3171/2021.1.FOCUS20671.
10. Izeki M, Fujio K, Ota S, et al. Radiological follow-up of the degenerated facet joints after lateral lumbar interbody fusion with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation: Focus on spontaneous facet joint fusion. J Orthop Sci, 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.jos.2021.06.018.
11. Tromme A, Charles YP, Schuller S, et al. Osteoarthritis and spontaneous fusion of facet joints after percutaneous instrumentation in thoracolumbar fractures. Eur Spine J, 2019, 28(5): 1121-1129.
12. Gazzeri R, Panagiotopoulos K, Princiotto S, et al. Spontaneous spinal arthrodesis in stand-alone percutaneous pedicle screw fixation without in situ fusion in patients with lumbar segmental instability: Long-term clinical, radiologic, and functional outcomes. World Neurosurg, 2018, 110: e1040-e1048.
13. Charles YP, Walter A, Schuller S, et al. Temporary percutaneous instrumentation and selective anterior fusion for thoracolumbar fractures. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 2017, 42(9): E523-E531.
14. Kim KW, Ha KY, Moon MS, et al. Fate of the facet joints after instrumented intertransverse process fusion. Clin Orthop Relat Res, 1999, (366): 110-119.
15. Akbarnia BA, Crandall DG, Burkus K, et al. Use of long rods and a short arthrodesis for burst fractures of the thoracolumbar spine. A long-term follow-up study. J Bone Joint Surg (Am), 1994, 76(11): 1629-1635.
16. Gardner VO, Armstrong GW. Long-term lumbar facet joint changes in spinal fracture patients treated with Harrington rods. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 1990, 15(6): 479-484.
17. Proietti L, Perna A, Ricciardi L, et al. Radiological evaluation of fusion patterns after lateral lumbar interbody fusion: institutional case series. Radiol Med, 2021, 126(2): 250-257.
18. Pathria M, Sartoris DJ, Resnick D. Osteoarthritis of the facet joints: accuracy of oblique radiographic assessment. Radiology, 1987, 164(1): 227-230.
19. Huang KT, Adogwa O, Babu R, et al. Radiological evidence of spontaneous spinal arthrodesis in patients with lower lumbar spondylolisthesis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 2014, 39(8): 656-663.
20. Sestero AM, Perra JH. A case report of severe kyphoscoliosis and autofusion of the posterior elements in two siblings with central core disease. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 2005, 30(2): E50-E55.
21. Tan S, Yao J, Flynn JA, et al. Zygapophyseal joint fusion in ankylosing spondylitis assessed by computed tomography: Associations with syndesmophytes and spinal motion. J Rheumatol, 2017, 44(7): 1004-1010.
22. Bleil J, Maier R, Hempfing A, et al. Histomorphologic and histomorphometric characteristics of zygapophyseal joint remodeling in ankylosing spondylitis. Arthritis Rheumatol, 2014, 66(7): 1745-1754.
23. Satake K, Kanemura T, Nakashima H, et al. Nonunion of transpsoas lateral lumbar interbody fusion using an allograft: Clinical assessment and risk factors. Spine Surg Relat Res, 2018, 2(4): 270-277.
24. Bridwell KH, Sedgewick TA, O’Brien MF, et al. The role of fusion and instrumentation in the treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis. J Spinal Disord, 1993, 6(6): 461-472.
25. Goel A. Only fixation for lumbar canal stenosis: Report of an experience with seven cases. J Craniovertebr Junction Spine, 2014, 5(1): 15-19.
26. Goel A, Goel AA, Satoskar SR, et al. Double insurance transfacetal screws for lumbar spinal stabilization. J Craniovertebr Junction Spine, 2014, 5(2): 85-87.
27. Reid JJ, Johnson JS, Wang JC. Challenges to bone formation in spinal fusion. J Biomech, 2011, 44(2): 213-220.
28. Dantas F, Dantas FLR, Botelho RV. Effect of interbody fusion compared with posterolateral fusion on lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Spine J, 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2021.12.001.
29. Ziroglu N, Duramaz A, Bayrak A. Comparison of functional and radiological outcomes of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion and posterolateral fusion techniques in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis. Z Orthop Unfall, 2021. doi: 10.1055/a-1471-8622.
30. 杨斐, 张建鹏, 郝建, 等. 腰椎小关节植骨融合术与横突间植骨融合术治疗腰椎爆裂骨折临床疗效及安全性比较. 中国临床医生杂志, 2021, 49(7): 842-845.
31. Kahanovitz N, Arnoczky SP, Levine DB, et al. The effects of internal fixation on the articular cartilage of unfused canine facet joint cartilage. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 1984, 9(3): 268-272.
32. Proietti L, Scaramuzzo L, Schirò GR, et al. Degenerative facet joint changes in lumbar percutaneous pedicle screw fixation without fusion. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res, 2015, 101(3): 375-379.
33. Hiyama A, Katoh H, Sakai D, et al. Facet joint violation after single-position versus dual-position lateral interbody fusion and percutaneous pedicle screw fixation: A comparison of two techniques. J Clin Neurosci, 2020, 78: 47-52.
34. Chen Z, Zhao J, Xu H, et al. Technical factors related to the incidence of adjacent superior segment facet joint violation after transpedicular instrumentation in the lumbar spine. Eur Spine J, 2008, 17(11): 1476-1480.
35. Moshirfar A, Jenis LG, Spector LR, et al. Computed tomography evaluation of superior-segment facet-joint violation after pedicle instrumentation of the lumbar spine with a midline surgical approach. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 2006, 31(22): 2624-2629.
36. Weishaupt D, Zanetti M, Boos N, et al. MR imaging and CT in osteoarthritis of the lumbar facet joints. Skeletal Radiol, 1999, 28(4): 215-219.
37. Netzer C, Urech K, Hügle T, et al. Characterization of subchondral bone histopathology of facet joint osteoarthritis in lumbar spinal stenosis. J Orthop Res, 2016, 34(8): 1475-1480.

Previous Article
Management status of anterior cruciate ligament injury in children and adolescents
Next Article
Application of tetrahedral framework nucleic acids in the treatment of osteoarthritis

Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery

Research progress of spontaneous facet fusion after lumbar spine surgery

Abstract Full text Figures/Tables Video References Cited by

Previous Article

Next Article

Format

Content