Unilateral facet dislocations and fracture-dislocations of the cervical spine

Fracture-dislocations of the cervical spine.

For centuries spinal injuries, and in particular those involving the cervical region, have been feared more than any others by the layman because they are so often associated with paralysis and death. A clinical description was recorded in the Edwin Smith papyrus (Power 1934) by a medical author who wrote in 2500 B.C. : “ One having a crushed vertebra of his neck he is unconscious of his two ar...

Fractures, dislocations, and fracture-dislocations of the spine.

Fractures and dislocations of the cervical spine.

All surgeons who treat injuries of the cervical spine would agree that their aim is to produce a stable, painless neck and to diminish any risk of continued or recurrent pressure oIl the spinal cord. There is, however, a wide difference of opinion about the best way to achieve this aim. For dislocations, B#{246}hler(1933) advised infiltration with local anaesthetic at the site of dislocation fo...

Delayed presentation of cervical facet dislocations.

PURPOSE To review treatment outcomes of 19 patients with delayed presentation of cervical facet dislocations. METHODS Records of 17 men and 2 women aged 21 to 63 (mean, 39) years who presented with unilateral (n=14) or bilateral (n=5) cervical facet dislocation after a delay of 7 to 21 (mean, 14) days were reviewed. The most common level of dislocation was C5-C6 (n=9), followed by C4-C5 (n=6)...

Management of irreducible unilateral facet joint dislocations in subaxial cervical spine: two case reports and a review of the literature

BACKGROUND Skeletal and soft tissue damage are often associated with unilateral facet dislocations, which undoubtedly lead to instability of the spine and further increase difficulties in cervical reduction. This type of irreducible facet dislocation is usually accompanied with potential catastrophic consequences including neurological deficit and severe disability. Therefore, a consistent and ...