Zygapophyseal joint

In anatomy, the zygapophyseal joint (facet joint) is "the joint that occurs between facets of the interior and superior articular processes of adjacent vertebra."

Disorders
Osteorthritis of the zygapophyseal joint may be associated with lumbalgia (back pain). Hypertrophy of the facet joint may lead to sciatica.

An underpowered randomized controlled trial found one of 10 patients benefited from corticosteroid injection of the facet joint. However, possibly due to the small size of the trial, this result did not reach statistical significance. Radiofrequency denervation or ablation may be able to reduce pain.