Facet joint orientation, facet and costovertebral joint osteoarthrosis, disc degeneration, vertebral body osteophytosis, and Schmorl's nodes in the thoracolumbar junctional region of cadaveric spines.

The disc degeneration in the thoracolumbar junctional region (T10-L1) of 37 male cadaveric spines was recorded with the use of discography. From 24 of these spines the facet joint orientation and degenerative findings of the facet and costovertebral joints, vertebral bodies (osteophytosis) and discs, and Schmorl's nodes were recorded directly from bones. At T11-12, the most common site for the transitional zone between thoracic and lumbar facet type, there was a marked variation in the orientation of facets. The occurrence of degenerative findings and Schmorl's nodes at the three levels in the region differed. At T10-11, disc degeneration, vertebral body osteophytosis, and Schmorl's nodes were most common (anterior degeneration). At T12-L1, facet and costovertebral joint degeneration were dominant (posterior degeneration). At T11-12, disc degeneration, vertebral body osteophytosis, Schmorl's nodes, and facet and costovertebral joint degeneration all occurred (anterior and posterior degeneration). The results point to a pathoanatomic association between degenerative changes and facet orientation.