Article reviewed and approved by Dr. Ibtissama Boukas, physician specializing in family medicine
What is a spinal lipping?
A lipping is an irregular bone formation around a joint. In the case of vertebral lipping, bony growth is found around the vertebral bodies.
This is a characteristic sign of degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis. This phenomenon also appears in old age, and sometimes as a result of traumatic injuries. It is therefore difficult to determine whether vertebral lipping should be considered a pathology, or whether it is related to aging. (Weiss and Jurmain, 2007).
Vertebral lipping is sometimes referred to as osteophyte (osteophytic lipping). When it causes inflammation or irritates a nerve root, it can cause pain and other nerve symptoms (sciatica, cruralgia, etc.).
Vertebral lipping is visible on radiography.