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Transverse Facet

The transverse facet, more often referred to as the transverse costal facet or transverse costal fovea, is found on the thoracic vertebrae. The transverse facet is a notch or groove on a thoracic vertebra that helps the vertebra attach to the rib cage.

Looking a little more closely, the transverse facet is actually located on the transverse processes of the thoracic vertebrae. The transverse process is a bony protuberance that extends off the sides of a vertebra. Each vertebra contains two, one branching to the left and one branching to the right—“transverse” refers to this crossways direction.

It is at the end of each transverse process that the transverse facet makes a connection with a rib. And, the thoracic vertebrae are the only vertebrae that have this transverse facet connection, since they are the only vertebrae that connect with the rib cage.

There are benefits to the thoracic spine being directly connected to the rib cage, including the fact that the rib cage provides the thoracic spine with extra support. This is one reason why the thoracic spinal region experiences fewer injuries and less degeneration than the cervical spine (the neck) or lumbar spine (the lower back).

The transverse facet and the transverse process are terms you may hear if you have advanced disease or damage to your thoracic spine, as these are parts of the thoracic vertebrae that are involved in some forms of spinal fusion surgery. If your doctor has diagnosed you with herniated disc, bulging disc, or spinal stenosis, he or she may recommend a traditional, open-pack surgery that involves spinal fusion. This surgery includes:

• Taking a bone graft from your hip or pelvis, or from a cadaver
• Inserting the bone graft onto the transverse process, just beneath the muscle
• Attaching the bone graft with rods and screws
• Closing the incision and waiting for the bone graft to “fuse” with existing bone which, ideally, would eliminate motion in that region of the spine and reduce discomfort

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This form of traditional surgery near the transverse facet involves a hospital stay, general anesthesia, large incisions, and recovery periods of up to a year. Luckily, there are alternatives. If your doctor has diagnosed you with a spine condition like herniated disc, bulging disc, foraminal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, or spinal arthritis, you may want to consider the progressive, outpatient treatment options at Laser Spine Institute (LSI). Our experts can give you more information on our minimally-invasive, endoscopic procedures that could help you rediscover a life without pain. Shorter recovery periods, less risk, and high success rates are just a few of the benefits the procedures that LSI offers. Contact us today for a free review of your MRI or CT scan.

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