BackgroundAim of the study was to evaluate degenerative lumbar facet joint changes after percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) in the treatment of lumbar fractures. Patients and methodsThirty patients underwent short PPSF without fusion. CT scan was performed in the pre- and postoperative time at 4, 8 and 12 months. The 6 zygapophyseal joints adjacent the fracture's level were evaluated. ResultsAt 4 months patients showed no differences between pre- and postoperative joint radiographic aspect. At 8 and 12 months CT scan demonstrated a progressive degeneration only in the middle joints respectively in 21.42% and in 76.92% of the cases. All 10 disrupted facet joints showed progressive degenerative changes at 8 and 12 months. ConclusionLumbar percutaneous fixation without fusion induces little degenerations essentially collocated in the middle joints close to fracture level at 8 and 12 months. In the proximal and distal joints adjacent the screws degenerative changes can be seen only when associated to pedicle screw encroachment. Level of evidenceLevel IV, retrospective study.