Bone resorption of the facet joint in rheumatoid arthritis as a predictor of lower cervical myelopathy

Facet joint involvement in the inflammatory rheumatic disease

BACKGROUND

The involvement of facet joints (FJ) in patients with inflammatory rheumatic disorders remains underexplored. This review aims to look at FJ disease from a rheumatologist's perspective, with the emphasis given to the clinical presentations and patterns of FJ engagement in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and crystal-related arthropathies, and discussion of challenges in studying FJ in rheumatic disease.

METHODS

A systematic PubMed search using the pertinent keywords was performed, relevant articles extracted, and the acquired data critically assessed, interpreted, and organized according to the authors' experience and judgment.

RESULTS

FJ involvement is common in patients with radiographic axSpA, occurs throughout the spine, but is more frequently seen in the thoracic segment. The existing data suggests that the FJ are primarily affected by the disease process, while altered spine biomechanics due to the presence of syndesmophytes at the same vertebral level contributes to the FJ fusion. Predominant involvement of FJ of the cervical spinal segment has been suggested in PsA; however, prevalence and clinical significance of FJ involvement in PsA is still markedly underexplored. RA-related FJ disease of the cervical spine in patients with poorly controlled RA is not uncommon and can be related to significant morbidity, while the burden of FJ involvement in the thoracic and lumbar spinal segments in RA is also underexplored. FJ disease is possible in the course of crystal-related arthropathies, but the high level of suspicion is a prerequisite for the timely diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The involvement of FJ in the course of inflammatory rheumatic disease is not uncommon. Prospective studies are needed to understand the epidemiology and significance of FJ disease in inflammatory rheumatic conditions.

Incidence of and risk factors for spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, and vertebral fracture in rheumatoid arthritis

INTRODUCTION

Although lumbar lesions such as spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, and vertebral fracture are not specific to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the prevalence is high in RA patients. However, no longitudinal study has evaluated lumbar lesions in RA. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of and risk factors for lumbar lesions in RA by a prospective longitudinal cohort study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study cohort comprised 110 patients with RA from the 'analysis of factors for RA spinal disorders (AFFORD)' study who completed the secondary survey at a single orthopaedic outpatient RA clinic. Radiological examination included standing radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine. New development of spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, and vertebral fracture were assessed between baseline and secondary survey.

RESULTS

The incidences of spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, and vertebral fracture were 42%, 16%, and 12%, respectively, during a mean follow-up of 7 years. The independent risk factor for de novo scoliosis was poor control of RA (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.81, p = 0.011), while the independent risk factors for new vertebral fracture was use of glucocorticoid at secondary survey (aOR 14.87, p = 0.012). Patients with de novo scoliosis exhibited more severe low back pain and lower quality of life than those without.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of scoliosis was related in patients with poor control of RA, while new vertebral fracture was more common in patients with use of glucocorticoid. Control of disease activity might be important in preventing radiological lumbar disorders in RA.

Increased risk of symptomatic progression of instability following decompression for lumbar canal stenosis in patients receiving chronic glucocorticoids therapy

BACKGROUND

Lumbar decompression surgery is a commonly used treatment for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis; however, some patients develop symptomatic spinal instability following decompression surgery. The objective of this study was to reveal risk factors for delayed instability following decompression surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis.

METHODS

One hundred ten patients who underwent single-level lumbar decompression between 2008 and 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Surgical indication for decompression surgery was symptomatic lumbar canal stenosis without spondylolisthesis or with minimum spondylolisthesis (less than 4 mm translation). Patients with gross segmental motion (>10° in disc angle, >2 mm translation) on flexion-extension lumbar radiographs were excluded. Age, sex, body mass index, smoking history, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune connective tissue diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, and the use of glucocorticoids were investigated. Radiographic measurements included disc angle, disc height, slippage, facet angle, segmental motion (flexion-extension), lumbar alignment, facet effusion, and disc degeneration. Data were analyzed using multivariate forward selection stepwise logistic regression, chi-square tests, and Student t-test.

RESULTS

Six of 110 patients (5.5%) developed symptomatic spinal instability at the operative level and underwent spinal fusion surgery at an average of 2.1 years postoperatively. Autoimmune connective tissue disorders and chronic use of glucocorticoids were associated with the occurrence of symptomatic spinal instability requiring spine fusion surgery, while there was no significant difference in radiographic parameters and demographic factors excluding autoimmune connective tissue diseases between reoperation and non-reoperation groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with autoimmune connective tissue disorders receiving chronic glucocorticoid therapy are more likely to develop symptomatic spinal instability following decompression surgery for lumbar canal stenosis without or with minimal spondylolisthesis.