Expert Consensus-Based Criteria for Identifying Lumbar Facet Joint Pain in Primary Care: Development Using Factor Analysis and a Modified Delphi Method.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Lumbar facet joint pain is a treatable condition often overlooked or misclassified as nonspecific low back pain. Although facet joint blocks are useful for diagnosis, they are unsuitable for early-stage screening. This study aimed to develop practical diagnostic criteria for lumbar facet joint pain that are easily applicable by general practitioners without invasive procedures to facilitate early identification and referral for appropriate treatment.

Methods

PubMed was searched for articles on facet joint pain. All diagnostic items described in the identified articles were comprehensively collected. A questionnaire survey was administered to orthopedic spine surgeons, who rated each item based on its diagnostic value; only those considered important were extract

SUBMITTER: Abe H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12804469 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature