J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  1997 Oct;26(10):1379-1384.

Locked Facet Syndrome of the Cervical Spine

• Choi JY
• Yoon DH
• Chin DK
• Kim YS

Abstract

Between 1984 and 1995, sixty-one patients were treated for facet interlocking of the cervical spine. The most common level of dislocation was C6/7; unilateral facet locking was observed in 27 patients, and bilateral locking in 34. Immediate traction with increasing weight reduced the dislocation in 51 patients, but ten required surgery, and of the 51 patients whose dislocations were successfully reduced with traction, 36 underwent surgery due to spinal instability.In all 46 patients who were operated on, spinal stability was achieved without major complications. On discharge, neurological improvement was observed in 18 patients. These findings suggest that even in neurologically compromised patients, prompt reduction and internal stabilization can facilitate recovery.

Keyword

Cervical cord injury; Facet interlocking; Traction; Internal fixation; Spinal stability

MeSH Terms

Dislocations
Humans
Spine*
Traction