What condition is characterized by hypertrophy of the facets?

Hypertrophy of the facets is primarily associated with spondylosis, a degenerative condition that affects the spinal discs and the vertebral bodies, resulting in the overgrowth or enlargement of the facet joints due to increased stress and wear over time. This can lead to back pain and stiffness as the spine loses flexibility.

In spondylosis, the degeneration of the intervertebral discs can cause the vertebrae to become less aligned, which may place additional strain on the facet joints. As a compensatory response, these joints may undergo hypertrophy, which can further contribute to spinal instability or the development of osteoarthritis of the spine.

Spondylitis, on the other hand, refers to inflammation of the spine, often associated with inflammatory diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis, and is not specifically characterized by facet joint hypertrophy. Spondylolysis typically denotes a defect or fracture in the pars interarticularis of a vertebra, and does not involve facet joint changes. Spondylolisthesis involves the slippage of one vertebra over another, often as a result of spondylolysis or degenerative changes, but it is not specifically characterized by hypertrophy of the facet joints.