DXI DJD (ACTUAL 2025/2026) EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
CORRECT ANSWERS
Where in lumbar spine is most commonly affected by DJD?
What are the effects? -----answers----L4/L5
-Osteophytes
-Loss of disc height
-Facet arthrosis
-Vacuum cleft
-Spinal stenosis (<12mm)
What can happen to apophyseal joints in lumbar spine? -----
answers----Degeneration. Sagittally oriented facets much
more prone to degeneration
What can happen to the IVD in lumbar spine? -----answers---
-Traction osteophytes -> early phase, 2mm from anterior body,
horizontal and tapered
-Claw osteophytes -> broader base, vertical orientation,
curvilinear, tapered (goes horizontal first then vertically)
-Vacuum cleft -> lucent linear area in disc space from nitrogen
gases
On what views will a vacuum cleft be present? -----answers--
--Present on extension films
, -Disappears on flexion films
What are the most common locations and features of
degenerative spondylolisthesis? -----answers----C7 and L4
most common
-Female older than 40 years old
-This is a combination of:
*loss of joint space
*loss of disc height
*remodeling of facet surfaces to a more sagittal orientation
*broadening of pedicle facet angle
If degenerative spondylolisthesis is present in L5/S1 what is
the likely cause? -----answers---Pars defect
In the cervical spine, more than ____° or ____mm of movement
indicates instability? -----answers---11° or 3.5mm
What are three resulting degenerative changes from spinal
stenosis? -----answers----Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy
-Osteophytes
-Bulging disc
Where is the most common location of synovial cysts? Can you
see them on Xray? -----answers----Most common at L4/L5
CORRECT ANSWERS
Where in lumbar spine is most commonly affected by DJD?
What are the effects? -----answers----L4/L5
-Osteophytes
-Loss of disc height
-Facet arthrosis
-Vacuum cleft
-Spinal stenosis (<12mm)
What can happen to apophyseal joints in lumbar spine? -----
answers----Degeneration. Sagittally oriented facets much
more prone to degeneration
What can happen to the IVD in lumbar spine? -----answers---
-Traction osteophytes -> early phase, 2mm from anterior body,
horizontal and tapered
-Claw osteophytes -> broader base, vertical orientation,
curvilinear, tapered (goes horizontal first then vertically)
-Vacuum cleft -> lucent linear area in disc space from nitrogen
gases
On what views will a vacuum cleft be present? -----answers--
--Present on extension films
, -Disappears on flexion films
What are the most common locations and features of
degenerative spondylolisthesis? -----answers----C7 and L4
most common
-Female older than 40 years old
-This is a combination of:
*loss of joint space
*loss of disc height
*remodeling of facet surfaces to a more sagittal orientation
*broadening of pedicle facet angle
If degenerative spondylolisthesis is present in L5/S1 what is
the likely cause? -----answers---Pars defect
In the cervical spine, more than ____° or ____mm of movement
indicates instability? -----answers---11° or 3.5mm
What are three resulting degenerative changes from spinal
stenosis? -----answers----Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy
-Osteophytes
-Bulging disc
Where is the most common location of synovial cysts? Can you
see them on Xray? -----answers----Most common at L4/L5
