Diagnostic utility of patient examination data to diagnose facet joint pain: A systematic review

Background: The facet joint has been implicated as the pain source in up to 45% of individuals with low back pain (LBP). With recurrence of LBP between 24-80% within a year, effective diagnosis and management of facet joint pain (FJP) is essential. Additionally, recent research has provided new insights regarding the efficacy of anaesthetic facet joint blocks, which are considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of FJP. An evidence synthesis is required to establish the diagnostic accuracy of clinical examination findings for FJP, where rigorous application of the reference standard has been utilised.
Source: Manual Therapy - Category: Physiotherapy Authors: Source Type: research