Cervical Spine Orthopedics I Practice Exam

Facet syndrome is centered on the zygapophyseal (facet) joints themselves. These are the synovial joints between the superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae. When they degenerate or become inflamed, the joint capsule and synovium generate most of the pain, especially with movements that load the facets—extension and rotation in the cervical region. The resulting pain is typically felt in the paraspinal area and may be provoked by specific extension-rotation maneuvers. The other structures are not the primary source in facet syndrome. The disc can cause axial or radicular pain from disc degeneration or herniation, but that’s a different pain generator. Uncovertebral joints and the lamina can contribute to other cervical pathology, but they are not the main structures involved in facet syndrome.