[Unilateral dislocations of the thoracic and lumbar spine]

Unilateral dislocation is a trauma typical of the cervical spine. Case reports on unilateral dislocation of the thoracic or lumbar vertebrae can be found in the relevant literature only rarely and they often describe this condition associated with multiple trauma or combined injuries. Although unilateral dislocation is an unstable injury with rotation involved, injury to the spinal cord or spinal nerve roots is not common. Diagnosis is based on radiographic and CT examination. Therapy includes open reduction and instrumented spondylodesis of the injured segment. The cases of two patients with unilateral dislocations in the thoracic and the lumbar spine, respectively, treated at the Department of Spinal Surgery, Motol Teaching Hospital in Prague, are reported here.