Delayed surgical treatment for a traumatic bilateral cervical facet joint dislocation using a posterior-anterior approach: a case report

• Main Authors: Shimada Takashi, Ohtori Seiji, Inoue Gen, Nakamura Junichi, Nakada Izumi, Saiki Hiroshi, Chang Song Ho, Kawamura Koui, Takahashi Kazuhisa, Sugiyama Hiroshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2013-01-01
• Series: Journal of Medical Case Reports
• Online Access: http://www.jmedicalcasereports.com/content/7/1/9

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>There have been few reports of patients with bilateral cervical facet dislocations that remain untreated for eight weeks or more. We report the case of a 76-year-old man with an old bilateral cervical facet joint dislocation fracture that was treated by posterior-anterior reduction and fixation.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 76-year-old Asian man was involved in a road traffic accident. He presented with neck pain and arm pain on his right side, but motor weakness and paralysis were not observed. He was treated conservatively; however, instability and spondylolisthesis at the C5 to C6 joint increased eight weeks after the injury. We performed a posterior-anterior reduction and fixation. After surgery, bony union was achieved, and his neck pain and arm pain disappeared.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We recommend reduction and fixation surgery if a patient has an old bilateral facet joint dislocation fracture in the cervical spine.</p>