Further Outpatient Care

See the list below:

Various treatments are available in an outpatient setting for patients with facet joint arthropathy. Please refer to the Treatment section for a more complete discussion.

Further Inpatient Care

See the list below:

Lumbar facet arthropathy does not require inpatient management; outpatient workups and treatments are adequate.

Patient Education

See the list below:

Patients need to be educated in all aspects of their diagnosis and to be informed of all treatment options. As with any condition affecting the back, patients need to have a good understanding of proper body mechanics and back safety techniques; they also require daily activities to prevent worsening of symptoms. Participation in physical therapy may be helpful in improving spinal range of motion and strength. The patient should be instructed in a lumbar spine stabilization program when appropriate.
For excellent patient education resources, see eMedicineHealth's patient education articles Low Back Pain, Chronic Pain, and Pain Medications.

Questions

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Media Gallery

Anteroposterior view of right L4-5 facet intra-articular injection with contrast.
Lateral view of right L4-5 facet intra-articular injection with contrast.
Oblique view of right L4-5 facet intra-articular injection with contrast.
Anteroposterior view of right L5 dorsal medial branch needle position (tip of the needle is at the neck of the sacral ala).
Lateral view of right L5 dorsal medial branch needle position (tip of the needle is at the neck of the sacral ala, just below the L5-S1 facet joint).
Anteroposterior view of right L4 dorsal medial branch needle position (tip of the needle is at the neck of the right L5 transverse process).
Lateral view of right L4 dorsal medial branch needle position (tip of the needle is at the neck of the right L5 transverse process, just below L4-5 facet joint).

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Author

Carl H Shin, MD Consulting Staff, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pennsylvania

Carl H Shin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, North American Spine Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Curtis W Slipman, MD Director, University of Pennsylvania Spine Center; Associate Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center

Curtis W Slipman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Association of Academic Physiatrists, International Association for the Study of Pain, North American Spine Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Patrick M Foye, MD Director of Coccyx Pain Center, Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School; Co-Director of Musculoskeletal Fellowship, Co-Director of Back Pain Clinic, University Hospital

Patrick M Foye, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Stephen Kishner, MD, MHA Professor of Clinical Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program Director, Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans

Stephen Kishner, MD, MHA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

J Michael Wieting, DO, MEd, FAOCPMR, FAAOE Senior Associate Dean, Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Professor of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

J Michael Wieting, DO, MEd, FAOCPMR, FAAOE is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Association of Osteopathic Examiners, American Osteopathic Association, American Osteopathic College of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Association of Academic Physiatrists, Gold Humanism Honor Society, International Society for Communication Science and Medicine, Michigan Osteopathic Association, Oklahoma Osteopathic Association, Tennessee Osteopathic Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

The editors wish to gratefully acknowledge Mark I Ellen, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Medicine, The Emory Sports Medicine Center, for his previous participation in this article.

Sections Lumbar Facet Arthropathy
Overview
Presentation
- History
- Physical
- Causes
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Lumbar Facet Arthropathy Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

Further Inpatient Care

Patient Education

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