Facet Tropism in Low Back Pain Patients

NCT06982118 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: IstPRMTRH-EK3
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 92
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This retrospective study investigates the relationship between lumbar facet tropism and the occurrence of disc herniation and spondylolisthesis in patients with low back pain who underwent lumbar MRI. Facet tropism, defined as asymmetrical facet joint rotation, is hypothesized to influence spinal biomechanics and contribute to degenerative processes. The study will evaluate MRI scans of patients with low back pain to determine the presence of facet tropism, disc herniation, and listhesis at L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1 levels, aiming to identify potential associations between these conditions at various spinal levels.

Conditions

Low Back Pain; Spondylolisthesis; Degenerative Disc Disease, Lumbar

Keywords

facet tropism; low back pain; physical therapy; magnetic resonance imaging

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Frequency of Facet Tropism

  The presence of facet tropism at the L3-L4, L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels will be determined in patients who present with low back pain and have lumbar magnetic resonance imaging.

  Baseline

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Frequency of Lumbar Disc Herniation and Spondylolisthesis

  Baseline

Study Arms (1)

Patients with low back pain

Between 01/11/2023-01/05/2025, patients who applied to Istanbul Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation EAH Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient clinic with the complaint of low back pain and outpatient clinic archive files will be included in the study in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Demographic data (age, gender), etiopathology (lumbar disc herniation, spondylosis, spondylolisthesis etc.), physical therapy modalities and drug use information will be noted from the archive files. The presence/grade of disc herniation, presence of spondylolisthesis and facet measurements of lumbar MRI patients registered in the hospital imaging system will be recorded. The data will be statistically analyzed and the relationship between facet tropism, disc herniation and listhesis will be tested.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients admitted to the physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinic of Istanbul Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital with the complaint of low back pain between 01/11/2023-01/05/2025

You may qualify if:

• Male and female patients aged 18-80 years
• Patients admitted to the outpatient clinic with complaints of low back pain
• Patients with complete demographic and clinical data in their archive files
• Patients with lumbar MRI registered in the hospital imaging system after clinic admission

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with a history of lumbar surgery
• History of trauma in the lumbar region
• Active inflammatory joint disease
• Patients with central nervous system diseases such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis
• Malignancy
• Files with missing archive file records

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istanbul Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital

Istanbul, 34186, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Kong MH, He W, Tsai YD, Chen NF, Keorochana G, Do DH, Wang JC. Relationship of facet tropism with degeneration and stability of functional spinal unit. Yonsei Med J. 2009 Oct 31;50(5):624-9. doi: 10.3349/ymj.2009.50.5.624. Epub 2009 Oct 20.

  PMID: 19881964 BACKGROUND

• Garg K, Aggarwal A. Facet Tropism in Lumbar Spine and Cervical Spine: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. World Neurosurg. 2021 Mar;147:47-65. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.11.171. Epub 2020 Dec 9.

  PMID: 33309642 BACKGROUND

• Do DH, Taghavi CE, Fong W, Kong MH, Morishita Y, Wang JC. The relationship between degree of facet tropism and amount of dynamic disc bulge in lumbar spine of patients symptomatic for low back pain. Eur Spine J. 2011 Jan;20(1):71-8. doi: 10.1007/s00586-010-1558-8. Epub 2010 Aug 25.

  PMID: 20734211 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Low Back Pain; Spondylolisthesis; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Back Pain; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Spondylolysis; Spondylosis; Spinal Diseases; Bone Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: MD

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 8, 2025
• First Posted: May 21, 2025
• Study Start: June 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: June 30, 2025
• Study Completion: June 30, 2025
• Last Updated: July 9, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Locations

TU (1)