Ultrasound-Guided Cervical Zygapophyseal (Facet) Intra-Articular Injection

Abstract

Cervical facet joints are diarthrodial joints formed by the superior articular process of one cervical vertebra articulating with the inferior articular process of the vertebrae above at the level of the junction of the lamina and the pedicle. The angulation of the facet joint increases caudally, being about 45 degrees superior to the transverse plane at the upper cervical level to assuming a more vertical position at the upper thoracic level. The superior articular process also faces in a more posteromedial direction at the upper cervical level, and this changes to a more posterolateral position at the lower cervical level, with C6 being the most common transition level [1, 2].