Lumbar Facet Joint Replacement is typically recommended for patients with severe facet joint arthritis in the lower back. This condition can be caused by a number of factors, including aging, wear and tear, and degenerative disc disease.
Most patients are in hospital for 7 – 10 days but could be out sooner if they feel up to it. The patients are mobilized quickly within 24 hours by the physiotherapists and are taught some simple exercises to restore muscle function. They are usually provided with lumbar support to wear for 4 – 6 weeks at which stage they are reviewed in the outpatient clinic with x-rays. If all is well on the x-rays serious physiotherapy starts on a regular basis thereafter lasting typically for 6 – 8 weeks.